Skip to main content

Catholic Studies Centre, Volunteers Prepare Holiday Gifts for SLU's Un-Housed Neighbors

11/20/2020

The Catholic Studies Centre, in partnership with the Friends of Edmund Campion, collected donations to create care packages including food, personal care items and religious gifts for some of the University’s unhoused neighbors as autumn comes to a close.

SLU student Andrew Sweeso, president of SLU’s St. Benedict Labre Ministry with the Homeless, stands with donations for people experiencing homeless as part of the Catholic Studies Centre's care package night.

SLU student Andrew Sweeso, president of SLU’s St. Benedict Labre Ministry with the Homeless, stands with donations for people experiencing homelessness as part of the Catholic Studies Centre's care package night. Photo by Madeline Hammell

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, volunteers gathered for a socially distanced evening of packing donated items including toiletries, rosaries and granola bars, while others gathered for a distanced Mass in the chapel at Boileau Hall to offers prayers for people experiencing homelessness.

SLU student Andrew Sweeso, president of SLU’s St. Benedict Labre Ministry with the Homeless, joined in the work, and collected the finished bags to distribute to those in need as part of Labre’s work. Labre is a student organization that prepares sack dinners and brings them to homeless people living on the streets of St. Louis, spending time with those they serve.

The SLU community and Friends of Edmund Campion recently came together for an evening Eucharistic Adoration Procession through the University’s campus.

David Meconi, S.J., Ph.D., director of the Catholic Studies Centre, puts together care packages for SLU's neighbors who are experiencing homelessness.

David Meconi, S.J., Ph.D., director of the Catholic Studies Centre, puts together care packages for SLU's neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. Photo by Madeline Hammell

Submitted by Hilary Finley.