VIDEO: Shalom Catholic Community Hosts Friendsgiving in Brooklyn Ahead of World Day of the Poor
GREENPOINT — Free manicures, shaves, clothing, and a home-cooked meal were among the offerings at an annual Friendsgiving celebration hosted by the Shalom Catholic Community at San Damiano Mission in Greenpoint on Nov. 7.
The event brought together volunteers and community members for a day of fellowship and service ahead of the World Day of the Poor on Nov. 15.
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For parishioner James Keefe, the gathering was an opportunity to share the blessings he has received with others.
“God has blessed me tremendously. And just to be able to share that feels wonderful,” Keefe said. “There’s no words, really. It’s amazing.”
The celebration also offered an opportunity for volunteers to give back in ways both big and small. Betty Checo helped clean up during the event, drawing on her own experiences to connect with those facing hardship.
Checo said she once lived in a shelter while raising her children as a single mother, giving her a personal understanding of the challenges some of the attendees face.
“To help those that have less. I feel like I have less,” she said. “I used to be in the shelter. Single mother raising my kids, so I can relate. I’ve been there.”
For others, the event provided a welcome break from difficult circumstances.
Miranda traveled from a homeless shelter in Far Rockaway to take part in the activities. She said the opportunity to get out of the shelter and spend time with others helped her feel connected to the wider community.
“I just feel like this is good for me as a human being because it gets me out of the shelter and helps me feel like part of society again,” she said. “I’m going through a really tough time right now. So basically, this gets me back up on my feet.”
Father Cristiano Bede, pastor of San Damiano Mission and coordinator of the Shalom Catholic Community, said Friendsgiving is an opportunity to bring the Gospel beyond the walls of the church.
“We want people to encounter God through the poorest ones, and we want to be enriched by them because they are the treasure of the church,” Bede said. “We help them because they are in need, and Christ is formed in us as well as Christ’s love flows right to the edges of society.”
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In addition to hosting activities at the mission, members of the Shalom Catholic Community ventured into the surrounding neighborhood to reach people who could not attend the celebration.
The outreach served as a reminder that those experiencing poverty and homelessness are not forgotten or alone.