Capuchins provide ray of hope at Christmas

(Vatican Radio) For Christians around the world the Christmas season is a period of hope and a time to spend with their families. But for others, this time of year brings with it anxiety and loneliness.
In Europe, the economic crisis continues to put a strain people’s finances, while in some circumstances men and women will be looking for a welcome place to keep warm this festive season, giving them a respite against the cold chill of the streets where they are forced to sleep rough.

Ireland is a country which, in the last few years, has fallen victim to Europe’s economic woes.
In the heart of Dublin the Capuchin Day Centre is a place of hope for many and has been helping the homeless and people in need since 1969.

The centre, founded and run by Capuchin Friar Brother Kevin Crowley provides breakfast and dinner as well as food parcels to those who arrive there.

It also offers a medical service, chiropody clinics, an optical service and advice and information clinics. The needs of the homeless are also prioritized.

According to Brother Kevin demand for their services has risen significantly as people continue to feel the bite of recession, which he said, is the worst he’s seen.

“The numbers are much bigger, more families, people who have lost their jobs and people who are on the verge of losing their homes. Just before the recession we’d have about 200 people or 300 people coming for food parcels, now every Wednesday we’d have over 2000.”

He goes on to say that, “it’s scary in the sense that all those people, they’re living in fear and they’re living in the unknown as to what is going to happen.”

Brother Kevin stresses that every person who comes to the centre is treated with dignity and “is treated in such a way that they will not be hungry for Christmas…but not alone Christmas…”

Although the centre receives some government funding, it relies on donations from people in Ireland and farther afield. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Brother Kevin Crowley