Loving the marginalized and outcasts

[MiserereMei25]

As a busy new dad and husband. I find it difficult on how I can reach out to the homeless or outcasts if society. I know my duty is first to my wife and son but What else can I do to do my part in building a just and good society?

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

You might not be able to spare the time to work at a soup kitchen, but you could donate money or food to the food bank

 

[Lee1]

That would be me today.

Seriously, we have a building in a town nearby that helps the homeless on a daily basis with free meals and hot drinks, warm clothing and even helping them into safe shelters at night. They do a great job. I helped there a few times when I had the time.

It does cost a little to travel it must be said and really they need practical help which could also cost you a little. A hot drink I think is always welcome, so perhaps a takeaway coffee or two. And a nice chat.

 

[KCmedtech]

I’m all for donating money if time isn’t an option.

This is exactly what we do. I don’t feel guilty about not donating time. I’m married with three very young kids…I do what I can. Right now…we have a little more money than time…so, that’s the direction I head in,

 

[edward_george1]

You can build a just and good society by doing your first duty, caring for your family. Read what the Popes have to say about the family, especially Leo XIII–who says that the family is the building block of society–and John Paul II–who says that “As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.”

-Fr ACEGC

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I agree with the people who said Donate.
In my experience, the outreach organizations can use donations more than they need or can use volunteers.
Also teach your children to be compassionate and explain to them the reasons why people end up homeless, such as addiction, mental illness, divorce, economic shifts etc.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

It can be tempting to feel that your children prevent you from doing works or mercy until you remember that taking care of them involves feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked and instructing the ignorant every day.

Find ways to involve your kids such as having them add things for the food bank to your grocery list.

 

[BornInMarch]

If you can’t directly volunteer, you can donate a portion of your income to a trustworthy organization. You can also pray.

 

[robertmidwest]

ignore pro-life people unless they are anything more than pro-birth.

I used to call them the “pro-birth” movement because their care seemed to stop at birth.

I think this issue highlights the differences between pro-life Catholics and pro-birth Catholics.

Yep…its the never ending confusion between pro-birth and pro-life…pro-birthers like to usurp the term pro-life, but without the moral considerations also included.

We get a lot of respect for that as long as we do not appear to be hypocrites and reduce pro-life to simply pro-birth.

Is there a pattern here?

 

[RCIAGraduate]

How would you respond to your neighbors who may have genuine concerns? They may even see the GOP as villains?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’d tell them I’m a Democrat, that politics is all money-driven and kind of boring, and change the subject to sports or music.

If they kept up fussing I’d make a few non-committal commiserating noises and suddenly remember I had another pressing appointment, and avoid them going forward.

 

[Bluebright]

Well there are many ways charity can be done from where you are. You can begin your day with the morning offering, which offers your day to God sufferings, joys, fears, hopes, prayers and all, so each time you give up things during the day (or night), as a new dad, you will do this often (sleep for one ) and do things for others, like for your baby or your wife then you can offer these to God. God uses these small mortifications for the good of the whole body of Christ, so the homeless and outcasts of society are included in this. This is why Jesus told us to fast and pray, which brings me to the other thing you can always do. You can pray. Even though your time is taken up looking after your new baby and your wife, you can pray. Mental prayer is good as it is in your head, or you can sing hymns as lullabies for your baby or simply talk to him about God or read to him from the Bible. There are 3 ways to help the world in action, with words and with prayer. You can always pray. Don’t worry too much if you can’t do everything. Have patience and let God lead you, your turn will come, it’s ok to wait.

 

[Ioannes_L]

I would say donate.
It’s easier than trying to do something by yourself.
Usually churches and organizations know who’s really in need of money and/or supplies, so it’s safer than simply giving money to those asking, who knows how they’re going to use it.

I don’t know if this happens as well where you live, but here some old Franciscan churches have a coffer beneath or close to a St. Anthony’s image and the saying: Bread for the poor, or St. Anthony’s bread. For me it’s a nice and quick way of helping.