“Feed my sheep”
Since 1901, many people have come to the Rectory door asking for a sandwich or food for the family. The Priests or the housekeeper usually made sandwiches and served them at the kitchen door of the Rectory. Many times they would be given a food voucher for the neighborhood store on the northwest side of 14th Street. As the economy shifted and the jobless and homeless rate intensified, the sandwiches became a full-time job. Father Shuda, pastor and Celeste Hamilton, housekeeper, began to address the situation by preparing sandwiches and distributing them at the back door. When the volume became too large to handle in this manner, the Soup Kitchen was established and opened on February 1, 1981. In a newspaper article regarding the Kitchen, Father Acri commented, “I have an affinity for the poor and here is where they’re at. If you’ve only been here two days, it slaps you right in the face.” The Catholic Witness, June 1981. At this time, the Bethesda Mission and the Spanish Center dropped their lunch program and St. Francis provided the only Soup Kitchen and Spanish Food Bank in the Harrisburg area. Today, the Soup Kitchen has matured into a vital component of the life of the parish and the city.
Rosalind Williams, known as “Ms. Roz”, served as director and chef from 1995-2000, preparing hearty and wholesome meals for anyone who came through the door. She coordinated the volunteers at the Kitchen, ranging from youth groups doing community service or fulfilling required service hours in preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation, to retired adults, various organizations, and persons referred by Dauphin County Parole and Dauphin County Prison. Ms. Roz, who performed her work out of Christian love, received many awards for her continued generosity and good work in the Soup Kitchen. St. Francis Soup Kitchen is now led by Louis Medina and Elena Pagán.
The Parish is able to provide this service only through the generosity of many churches, individuals, social groups, school children and businesses. Soon after the opening of the Kitchen, Good Shepherd Parish, Camp Hill, began to take a second collection each month to help relieve the sufferings of the poor and hungry. We are deeply grateful to them and to all who generously contribute to care for God’s poor. One volunteer summed up her experience very beautifully by saying,
“I had a guy kiss my hand today because I gave him extra chili. It just breaks my heart… We sit in our homes – people aren't aware of how much need there is.”
With the present economic downturn, crime and drugs, there is a constant need to fulfill the spiritual work of mercy to “Feed the Hungry”.
Pax et bonum 100th Anniversary
Angela M. Orsini – Parish Archivist