Members and Affiliates of the NYC Area and many volunteers gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral this Ash Wednesday night for Malta Walks. The Cathedral’s St. Vincent de Paul Society swelled the volunteer participants, too. Fr. Luigi Portarulo imparted ashes and offered Mass with a homily reflecting the Gospel of Matthew’s call to give and to give quietly and prayerfully: “When you give alms, do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.”

Thus, wearing ashes, we set out on our Malta Walks into a cold and rainy city. On street corners, in doorways, and in the subway, many homeless neighbors were greeted with care packages. Opening conversation with each we encounter: “What’s your name?”; “Would you like something to eat?”; “May we pray for you in some way?”; “How are you tonight?”; in this way, we seek to recognize their integral human dignity. We do this, recalling always that Jesus is uniquely present in the marginalized, suffering, and needful.

The group gathered afterwards, drinking sparkling water, lemonade, and largely keeping the day’s fast while exchanging the names of those we encountered to pray for during Lent. Malta Walks gathers again at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18th at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Parish House. Volunteers may register in advance for more information here.