Friary is a haven for the deprived (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Friary is a haven for the deprived

8:55am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Behind the News By Dolores Cowburn

"This could be their only meal of the day.”

Those are the words of Franciscan Friar Father Augustine, who runs a soup kitchen with his fellow friars from the St Pio Friary, next to St Patrick’s Church in Westgate, Bradford.

The recession is hitting all parts of society hard, but none harder than those already struggling to make ends meet, living alone or on the streets and those battling with addiction.

For them, the soup kitchen is quite literally a Godsend.

But they do not come just for the food. Those coming through the heavy wooden doors come for company, someone to listen and care about their troubles.

The Franciscan monks do exactly that.

All members of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, based in New York, are aged under 30 when they enter the community.

Dressed in their grey robes, they are found in communities struggling with poverty.

Their Bradford base is open on a Tuesday and Thursday between 11am and 2pm to offer a hot drink, soup and toast to those who need it.

Demand for the soup kitchen is large, with sometimes up to 80 people coming through the doors in three hours.

The demand has been consistent despite the recession, a fact that could be attributed to other soup kitchens and day care centres opening up to provide a facility for those in need.

Father Augustine, 34, has been at the Friary in Bradford for four years and a Friar for 12.

He is heading to another mission based in Nicaragua at the end of April and has previously spent time in the Bronx.

What does a day in his life look like?

“Our primary work is prayer,” he said. “Living a life dedicated to God, but this would include service to the prayer, travelling around the country – especially to youth retreats – and inviting people into our home.

“We serve sandwiches at the door on a Wednesday. People seem to be happy with us living here and we have been very well received.

“The people we deal with are fairly similar people. They are likely alcohol or drug addicts, so similar sort of people to the Bronx.

“Its important as this could be their only meal of the day. For some, the soup kitchen gives them a reason to get out of bed.

“This is a safe environment and they feel respected by us. We show them the love that God wants them to know and it is meant to be a overflow of our life of prayer and service of what we do here.”

Father Sebastian is 37 and has been a Friar for eight years. He was engaged to be married, but turned to God and has worked in Harlem helping the poor.

He said that the Friars always focus on the poverty-stricken areas and if somewhere gets too ‘posh’ they move their base out to somewhere else where they are needed.

“We try and go where we are needed,” he said.

“We are their neighbours and they eat with us. This is our kitchen and I think the effect to give back that person’s dignity without being judgemental is great.

“The key is to listen. I may or may not have the answer, but at least I can hear them. It is important enough to be heard, it’s very significant.”

Christine Hudson, from Holme Wood, met the brothers when they came to St Mary’s Church when they were starting up the soup kitchen. She has volunteered for them ever since.

“Having this here is so important,” she said.

“People love it and respect everybody. We have prostitutes and alcoholics coming here and their need is great. They respect the brothers when they come. I love talking to them all. We are all friends here.”

Brother Benedict, a former bricklayer, has been at the kitchen since it started.

He turned to God after a drug addiction and a close brush with death when he suffered a multiple brain haemorrage.

“I lived a mad life,” he said. “I had heard about this community in New York and as soon as I heard it, I knew that was where I was going.

“They never got back to me and I thought I had been pushed away. Three months later, they gave me me an address for somewhere in Scotland and that was preparation for my work in the Bronx.

“I have discovered I can be loved for who I am and it is brilliant. Most of the people here have suffered abuse themselves and they are lonely people.

“We all need someone to listen to without judging us.

“We don’t realise where people come from, who probably haven’t had a mother or father or anyone to tell them right from wrong.

“I can respect them. The only way we can understand ourselves is through the light of Christ – food is secondary. Here we are getting people to the next level in their life.”