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Catholic Health East Commemorates National Homeless Memorial Day December 22, 2008  In Philadelphia, attendees gathered in LOVE Park and remembered those who have no one to remember them.  In Atlanta, the Homeless Persons’ Memorial Vigil was held on December 19th Newtown Square, Pa., Monday, December 22, 2008 -- Approximately 200 people gathered in Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Plaza to recognize the city’s 85 homeless men and women who died on the streets of Philadelphia during 2008. CHE joined Project H.O.M.E. and several other local organizations to organize and sponsor this year’s event. Sr. Karen Helfenstein, director, mission services and spirituality at CHE, coordinated the CHE System Office’s efforts to build awareness about the problems faced by our nation’s homeless population. “What is worse than living on the street without a home? Dying on the street... frightened, in pain, cold and alone. May God forgive us and have mercy.” At the CHE System Office, colleagues donated cash and items worth nearly $5000 to help fill over 70 backpacks filled with hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, socks, razors, other personal items and gift cards; these backpacks were collected for distribution to area homeless individuals.. “The response of our colleagues and their generosity is a great example of who we are,” said Sr. Karen. Also at the System Office, during the final Advent prayer service held on Monday, December 22 the names of those who lost their lives on the streets of Philadelphia in 2008 were read aloud as a bell tolled and colleagues prayed. Held in 90 cities nationwide, National Homeless Memorial Day is held on or near the first day of winter, the longest night of the year. Many CHE RHCs and JOAs participated in this nationwide effort. Mercy Health System of Maine held a candlelight procession remembered those homeless individuals who have died ....Pittsburgh Mercy Health System’s Operation Safety Net held its memorial service on December 21, with more families in attendance this year with small children. Project H.O.P.E., part of the Lourdes Health System, Camden, N.J., held a memorial and candle light vigil followed by food at a local church in Camden, N.J....in Atlanta, Ga., Saint Joseph’s Health System’s Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care Services hosted it third annual National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day Candlelight Vigil. Mercy Care Services’ guests grouped together to sing Silent Night and then lit candles for and read aloud 35 names of homeless persons who passed out of our lives this year. St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa., held a vigil and a clothing drive...The Sisters of Providence Health System in Springfield, Mass., held a city-wide memorial service, with over 100 providers, community leaders, and homeless participating in a December 22 service at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Springfield, MA. …in Florida, BayCare Health System’s St. Anthony’s Hospital participated in a service at Pinellas Hope which is a homeless shelter begun by Catholic Charities… at Mercy Community Health in West Hartford, Conn., residents and families of Saint Mary Home and The McAuley contributed to the Mercy Giving Trees, sharing clothing, toiletries, etc with the homeless through Mercy Housing Shelter’s Saint Elizabeth House…and in Albany at St. Peter’s Hospital, a memorial service for the homeless was held on the hospital campus. To learn more about the National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, visit http://www.nationalhomeless.org. For more information about homeless outreach efforts throughout Catholic Health East contact: Sr. Karen Helfenstein, CHE director, mission services & spirituality, 610.355.2006, khelfenstein@che.org ###
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