Denver Catholic

12 SEPTEMBER 24-OCTOBER 7, 2016 | DENVER CATHOLIC Around the Archdiocese Families are encouraged to bring helium filled balloons for a group prayer and release after Mass. Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary Chapel Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery 12801 W. 44th Avenue Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033 (303) 424-7785 Msgr. Jorge De los Santos will celebrate Mass in the Chapel for the faithful who gather to remember all of our children who have gone too soon. Join us for this celebration as we pause to remember. There will also be a dove release following Mass. Annual Children's Day Mass Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 11:00 am Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary and Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery ^6 ^6 Sep. 30-Oct. 2 Weekend Retreat (Men & Women) October 7-9 Weekend Retreat (Women) October 11 Day of Prayer (9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) October 14-16 Knights of Columbus Retreat (Men) October 19 Vietnamese Day of Prayer (9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) October 21-23 Weekend Retreat (Men) 4801 North Highway 67, P.O. Box 185, Sedalia, CO 80135 Phone: 303-688-4198 ext. 122 (information/reservations) Website: www.sacredheartretreat.org Christ in the City 'gala' to build awareness of unique apostolate BY ROXANNE KING T heir homeless ministry is unique and so is their "gala," which helps support it. Christ in the City is a Catholic non- profi t born in Denver that forms young adult missionaries to know, love and serve the chronically homeless. Erin McCrory, managing director of the min- istry, said the public perception of the homeless is based on a highly visible but small percentage of that population. "Of the homeless population, 80 to 90 percent are homeless temporarily," she said, adding that sadly, "10 to 18 per- cent become chronically homeless." The chronically homeless, McCrory said, are those often seen on street cor- ners. They're the ones who are most likely to have substance abuse (18 percent) and/or mental health (23 percent) issues. Other surprising facts: More than half of all Americans live paycheck to paycheck so when they lose their job— unemployment is the No. 1 cause of homelessness—they often reach out to family, friends or homeless services and bounce back fairly quickly, typically a few months to a year. Not so with the chronically homeless. "They've told us that once your real- ity becomes eating out of garbage cans and you don't hear your name spoken for months at a time, you accept this is your reality," McCrory said. "Their spirits are broken and they are lacking in hope and faith in people." Described as "service resistant," the chronically homeless don't avail themselves of services because they don't believe they're worthy of them, which leads to isolation and loneliness, McCrory said. So Christ in the City goes to them. Young missionaries—25 who volunteer for one to two years and receive spiritual and academic formation—walk the streets searching them out, learn their names, serve quality lunches to them in parks and sit with them as they eat, o€ ering community. They befriend them as Christ would have done. The ministry is doing the same with their upcoming gala, "Knowing, Loving and Serving the Poor," set for 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at Holy Name Parish in Englewood. The missionaries will emcee the event, which starts with a cocktail hour outside under tents, followed by a deli- cious dinner hosted by the missionaries who will sit at the tables with attendees. The program for the evening includes a video about the ministry, the presen- tation of the Father Woody Award to Michael Malloy, longtime director of case management at Samaritan House Homeless Shelter, and an "unconven- tional" live auction. "Our celebration is simple, but nicely done," McCrory said. "It's simple, but beautiful and appropriate." Celebration to support ministry to chronically homeless Tickets: $125 per person Table sponsorships also available. RSVP by Sept. 30 by visiting www.christinthecity.givingfuel.com. Questions: email events@christin thecity.org or call 303-952-9743. CHRIST IN THE CITY GALA i Christ in the City mission- aries befriend and serve the chron- ically homeless. PHOTO BY ABBY DELLASEGA

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