"Who is Mary?" That was the question posed in a Sunday homily. Father went on to tell us that Mary is a woman like all women, a woman like us. It made me think...

It was last August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Marian feast days are important to Vincentians and it was my plan to attend mass that morning. But things happen and another Vincentian and I ended up elsewhere. While others in our parish, I am told, enjoyed a beautiful celebration that included a violin rendition of Ave Maria, we visited one of the most down-and-out rental locations in town. In order to preserve the anonymity of our friends I won't identify the place, but local Vincentians will probably recognize it if they read on.

There are several units, mostly occupied by men who can't afford anything better. But there are units where women live and it is two of those units that we visited last August 15.

One of the women is younger; the other is older. Both have issues that we can only guess about. Alcohol is a factor, certainly for the older woman. Unemployment? Mental health issues? Family breakdown? Physical and/or sexual abuse? Most or all of these probably contribute to the state these women are in. We don't ask, but as we become more frequent visitors, people tell us some of their stories.

We visited at the request of Friend #1 who called about her friend and neighbour Friend #2. We brought food and took care of some other needs. We chatted for a few minutes with each woman before saying "May God bless you," and going about the other business of the day. We had been there before but his time the visit stayed with me. I couldn't shake the image of the living conditions. Neither woman appears to own anything of value. Each apartment is so cramped and dingy. The landlord should do something about these places, but we know that won't likely happen. How can they live there? It must be so depressing. I worried about those women and prayed for them.

Then when the homilist said that Mary is a woman who is like us, those two women came to mind again, in a different light. Those two, Friend 1 and Friend 2, are Mary to me!

Friend 1 has self-identified as an alcoholic (and not a recovering one). We know that it is best to visit her earlier in the day, rather than later, so she will be relatively sober and able to function. She never looks well groomed or tidy. But she is the person among all of the residents who calls SSVP and tells us when one of her neighbours is in distress. Friend 1 has a phone and not many of her neighbours do; she helps them call for food when they need it. Friend 1 had tears in her eyes as she told us the latest news about her reclusive neighbour, Friend 2. We have never visited Friend 1 without receiving a hug from her.

Friend 2 is the younger and, in some ways, needier woman. She is a gentle soul who seems to depend on Friend 1. She lives in the worst unit, has almost no belongings at present, and appears to have issues that are probably beyond the scope of SSVP. I wondered what kind of reception we would receive, given her reclusive and unpredictable nature. She welcomed us with a smile and accepted what we gave her with thanks and quiet dignity.

These two women have blessed me more than I could ever reciprocate. They exemplify Mary, meek and loving, humble and accepting of things they probably don't understand. They take care of each other when no one else seems to care. Most importantly, they permit me to serve Christ in the Vincentian way: with love, respect, justice and joy.

Submitted by
Denise Bondy, Chair
ONRC Spirituality Committee