Works of Mercy

(Left to right) Jasmine Harris, Esmeralda Figueroa 

and Frank Nainoa celebrated the Diocesan Day of

Service & Justice at Christ Cathedral.

We are all called to be a witness to mercy.

On Saturday, November 16 - the Diocesan Day of Service & Justice - we were invited out to Christ Cathedral to bear witness to all kinds of services and acts of mercy from our community. We joined many other nonprofits that day for a lovely service given by Bishop Kevin Vann, and for a lunch and tabling event afterward.

Joining Mercy House, Illumination Foundation and Jamboree Housing at the "Homelessness" station really put what we do at Habitat OC into perspective. We are but one spoke in the vast wheel of homelessness. It takes all of us working together and focusing on different aspects of homeslessnes to make an impact in the housing crisis.

Here at Habitat OC, we dedicate ourselves to "sheltering the homeless," or rather, sheltering those on the brink of homelessness. Which takes care of one of the corporal works of mercy.

But the message is clear: we cannot do it alone.

Just as we are but one spoke in the housing crisis/homelessness wheel, "sheltering the homeless" is also but one spoke in the giant wheel of mercy. The Corporal Works of Mercy respond to humanity's basic bodily needs and help give voice to the different ways we can help others by:

• Feeding the hungry.
• Giving drink to the thirsty.
• Sheltering the homeless.
• Visiting the sick.
• Visiting the imprisoned.
• Burying the dead.
• Giving alms to the poor.

Our work to end generational poverty through affordable housing is but one way we can address the needs of the disadvantaged. At the Witness to Mercy event, we had nonprofits on missions to restore justice in the foster care system, to end domestic violence, to feed the hungry and provide resources to those seeking medical help. We are but one small piece of God's grand plan to better the universe.

When we look upon the faces of new homeowners as we hand them their keys or repair a veteran's home, we are reminded, time after time, that we have made a difference in somebody's life. God calls us to put our faith into action and to bear witness to mercy. This is our response.