“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt 25: 35-36,40

Picture it: A cold and windy night in late winter. A fire is burning in a 55 gallon drum. A church parking lot is covered with yellow tape and boxes. The only sounds are passing trains and whispers from the boxes. You listen to the whispering and hear conversations of hunger and cold and how long can this last.

This is what a “Night of Homelessness” looked like for six parishes in the Diocese of Beaumont. Our high school teens gathered to experience what our homeless brothers and sisters experience night after night. While these teens experienced this for only nine hours, the experience was barely a glimpse into the lives of those with so much less.

The structure of the night was this:

• We began with teens setting up their own “housing,” which consisted of a box and one blanket. Some carried in their homework or a book to read but nothing else.
• Once the “city” was set up, we gathered around a “fire pit” for an opening prayer and reflection from two priests on the experience we were beginning.
• As the evening progressed, two speakers who were homeless spoke of their experiences on the streets, living from day to day and wondering where their next meal would come from. One of the speakers was homeless from the ages of 13 to 25 and the other became homeless after losing his $80,000 a year job (he is now a teacher at one of the local schools). These two captured everyone’s ears, eyes, and hearts as they spoke of the difficulties of their former lives.
• Teens then returned to their “homes” and our guest speakers walked around and visited with each “home.”
• As the teens had become comfortable—some even falling asleep—they were called back to the fire for discussion on how we could help those less fortunate than ourselves.
• Then it was back to their “homes” to find a warm spot and reflect on the night's activities. At two in the morning each “home” was given a half sandwich with no choice in the type.
• Adults gathered around the fire pit as teens lived in their “homes.”
• At 4:00 a.m. teens were called back to the fire for a prayer service that reflected on social justice and our obligation to serve those less fortunate than ourselves.
• At 6:00 a.m. teens were allowed into the building where they were served pancakes and sausage.

Some comments from teens included:

• “I don’t know how anyone could live night after night like this.”
• “It was uncomfortable and cold.”
• “Who knew life could be so tough.”

This event was a success in opening the eyes, ears, and hearts of teens, and plans are underway to do this “activity” again this Lent.