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City Reach Overnight Homeless Program

Ecclesia Ministries - Boston, MA

Ecclesia Ministries offers overnight urban outreach programs for adults, college students, and senior high students with accompanying adults from churches of any denomination. The program gives people the opportunity to learn first hand the about homelessness from people who are homeless or who have been homeless. During the two-day session, participants join CityReach staff in street ministry and offer hospitality, food and clothing. This is followed by times of sharing and reflection.

In 2008, Catholic Campus Ministry and United Campus Ministry will be bringing students to CityReach on Friday afternoon, October 24 and will return to PSU late Saturday afternoon, October 25. To register, contact Preston Fuller (603) 535-2327 or Kathy Tardif (603) 535-2673.

What You Should Expect 

Participants arrive at 7 p.m. Friday night, are addressed by homeless teachers, walk through the city guided by these people and share a liturgy. They sleep in the sanctuary of St. Paul's Cathedral.

On Saturday morning, participants offer clothing that they have collected and a simple meal to homeless people. They form teams for street outreach, taking sandwiches and clothes to people in South Station, Copley Square, Boston's waterfront and other sites.

All then eat lunch and reflect together about their experiences in light of the Gospel, write a prayer, and talk about next steps from them personally an/or as a group. Those from churches prepare to present their experiences as pat of their liturgies the next day.

For more details about CityReach, visit the Ecclesia Ministries web site.