In much of the country, those who live on our nation’s streets are considered most vulnerable when the winter chill sets in.
Tucson, Arizona, is different. The biggest danger is mid-summer when the desert heat becomes unbearable. It’s not unusual for heat waves lasting for weeks creating afternoons where the temperatures lurch well above the century mark Fahrenheit.
One typical day this summer Fr. Dennis Bosse, OFM, pastor of St. Pius X Church in Tucson, has returned from his pre-dawn walk around the city.
It’s a ritual he undertakes regularly. He starts early to avoid the mid-day sun. On this day, the temperature will rise to 110 degrees by afternoon. Those without air conditioning will spend the day at big box stores, libraries and other public spaces to find relief from the heat.
Fr. Dennis’ morning walks he uses as a check-in to talk with the people who live on the streets of Tucson. Many gravitate to the parks. He’s found they are usually friendly, and, while he’s been doing it for three years, he’s never found any problems with his own safety. Recognizing their humanity makes the process less scary.
That human connection is forged in part by his parish’s commitment to those who live on the streets of Tucson, fulfilling acts of Franciscan charity.
“We help them out the best we can,” says the pastor.
The parish operates a food pantry, a place where the poor of the city can receive assistance and come in for needed services. Like much of the country, Tucson is facing a rent crisis. The parish’s Samaritan Ministry assists those who need
help, providing assistance so that more people don’t fall into eviction and homelessness.
In conjunction with Catholic Community Services, parish volunteers work with Casa Alitas, a permanent refuge that grew out of a Pop Up Shelter begun in 2018. Casa Alitas assists migrants in one of the largest border cities, as Tucson is only an hour and a half from Mexico. Although not directly adjacent to Mexico, Tucson is a transit point for migrants. Parish volunteers also provide lunches for some 500 homeless people every Saturday at Casa Maria.
The parish is also home to other efforts that provide assistance, including a 12-step program to assist alcoholics and addicts. A support group for the families of the mentally ill is also available.
“They can feel overwhelmed,” says Fr. Bosse, noting the stress mental illness can place on family members of those afflicted.
Assisting the poorest of the poor is not without controversy. Some say that assisting migrants only encourages a chaotic situation at the border. The city will sometimes clear out downtown areas that are overwhelmed by homeless. A tent city has erupted just south of the city. Resources are often strained.
But Franciscan hospitality at St. Pius X prevails.
