Article written by Sr. Marlys Becker, OSF
Ministry to the Poor, Sioux City, Iowa

"The Riches of Standing with the Poor"

The story is told that when the Huns came to Rome, demanding of St. Gertrude that she give them the riches of the city, she told them to come back the next day when she would have gathered the riches for them.  St. Gertrude went about Rome, gathering the riches of Rome - the very poorest men, women, and children.

After thirty years as chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Sioux City, the hospital provided a grant for me to minister in my neighborhood. I have been privileged for the past six months to stand on holy ground walking with the seemingly “very poor.”

What joy as the mother of the newborn invites me into her home and trustingly places Celina in my arms. Celina's uncle, kneels on the floor to "adore" her, and gently looks after both mother and Celina.  The brown-eyed Guatemalan children, race to me, wanting to be the first to be picked up, to hug me, and snuggle on my shoulder.

While companioning my newest neighbors to the long bread line on a cold morning, I experienced the hope of the poor for food for their children, and  their disappointment as mother and her three-year old were told that she could have only one loaf of bread; she would need to put one back on the shelf.

Lord, these are the people in whom you dwell – the weary, down trodden, and the homeless who long for the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter. These are the people who invite me to their family meals, whose children call me "Moma" and who ask me to be "Grandma" to their nine-year old son. They've come to my door when mother burned herself with hot grease, when sadness entered the family, when a mother and five children are in desperate need of furniture.

My guiding image is the painting by Salvador Dali of Jesus bending down from the cross to lift up the people of planet earth. I believe Jesus is calling each of us to partner with him to lift up his children by giving them the respect, love compassion, and dignity they deserve.

Countless generous, loving people walk with me in my ministry of living the words of St. Francis: "Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary, use words."