I am fairly certain that it was about a year ago that I began this effort at “blogging” when on the way home on AMTRAK from the annual bishops’ meeting in Baltimore, I wrote my first entry. It is an  effort which I  have enjoyed immensely and I am grateful for all the compliments and even the occasional criticism which have met my various efforts. Next week the bishops will be meeting again in Baltimore but I am unable yet to be present. I regret this reality but accept it as an additional part of the occasional suffering and disappointment which accompanies my long recovery.

I spent last night reading the materials for next week’s meeting. The public agenda is rather light and the “Executive Session” agenda looks interesting as it always does. A recent trend which I have alluded to in the past is to put the more important issues requiring discussion and discernment into “Executive Session” and place only those items which are ready for final debate and vote into the open, public sessions. This trend would deeply bother many of the bishops I knew well and admired from the late seventies and eighties who were pleased with the move to openness and transparency but we are a different breed of “bishop-cat” these days, preferring not to air certain issues in public until they are ripe and ready.

What I will do this year since I will have the time is provide my own comments and thoughts on matters before the bishops each day of the meeting and at the conclusion of the daily sessions. Obviously, I will not be privy to closed session discussions and even if I were, I would respect the confidentiality of those meetings. To do otherwise would be “going rogue” as we have recently come to understand that phrase.

Looking back on my year in the blogosphere, I am learning still. I think I made a good decision in the beginning to allow my readers to share comments with me but not publish them. I prefer catechesis to confrontation and have no desire to enter into polemical jousting with anyone. Most of the comments have been helpful and constructive – some, especially from those engaged in keeping “Hillsborough Cares”  from coming into existence have been vicious. But I read them all and have corrected some errors in my own work as a result of the constructive criticism which has come my way through the “comments.”

Finally, if it is indeed an anniversary for the “Blog” it can right be celebrated by all of us, not just myself. Thanks for listening, reading and responding over the last twelve months.

Bishop Lynch

The vote of Hillsborough County Commissioners yesterday, a reversal of their previous position, to disallow Catholic Charities an opportunity to serve the homeless comes as a disappointment to be sure. The Diocese offered Catholic Charities and the county as well as its civic jurisdictions the only parcel of land in the county we have for the purpose of temporary housing, land made available by the transfer of our former Good Shepherd parish to nearby Mary Help of Christians property. I almost fell out of my chair last night when Channel 13 reported that the Diocese owns thirty-two parcels of land in Hillsborough county.  True, but Sacred Heart Church in downtown sits on one, Christ the King on another, St. Lawrence on another and so on. Available land for use for a purpose like this – nada, nothing other than what was offered.

But I have said to Catholic Charities all along that we will go where we are wanted and needed if we can be helpful. Getting zoning approval for the use of the land was only one gauge of the project. Civic support and governmental cooperation would be required to open and maintain the project and if that was to be half as hard to obtain as zoning approval, Hillsborough Cares would be forever getting off the ground. So, I think we know the answer to the question, “Who Cares?” Four of the seven commissioners don’t – the homeless know that, and now thanks to the newspapers and media, the population of the county know it as well.

From the beginning, neither I nor any of those involved in the project have been critical of the East Lake residents. They are important stakeholders, and they had both a need and right to be heard. Adjustments were made in the site plan to meet their early objections but ultimately the NIMBY effect took place, “Not in my back yard.” The rhetoric reflected an understandable passion but your blood would curl if I shared with you some of the awful and evil things sent to me by them. We simply turned the other cheek. I kept reminding myself that some of the neighbors and co-religionists of the Lord I served accused him of “eating with tax collectors, sinners and prostitutes.” What would Jesus do? He would have kept on doing the same.

Pinellas Hope has been a success. Is it perfect? Certainly  not. Has it helped the homeless out of their desperate poverty and isolation – in many instances, yes. Has it helped the county and cities in dealing with the homeless challenge. Ask them? The Hillsborough County Commissioners did and they know the answer. The Mayor of Pinellas Park in which the shelter is located was initially opposed. After two years, he is now one of our best advocates. Commissioner Higgenbottom who changed his vote yesterday read off a litany of past charges against the residents – what he did not share was the amazingly law-abiding and strict-rule abiding of the residents of Pinellas Hope once they arrived.

The county made the NEW YORK TIMES today. Maybe that’s flattering to some. The ST. PETERSBURG TIMES editorial this morning and the very fair article by Sue Carlton in the same edition capture my thoughts. The Gospel I preach lost a battle yesterday but we do as commanded, “shake the dust off and move on.” If any other political jurisdiction like Pasco, Hernando and/or Citrus county would like our help and experience, call us. Somebody out there must care.

+RNL

You have no idea how hard it is to be confined at home unable to be present at things which are near and dear to my heart. This week was full  of those frustrations. Saturday last the Diocesan Pastoral Council met, without me. Monday the Priests Council met, without me. On Thursday, the second phase of our amazing homeless project had a ground breaking without me. I have always known that I am replaceable but think I secretly hoped that retirement or death would make disengagement more palatable.

Things are beginning to look very favorable for our homeless initiative in Hillsborough county, “Hillsborough Cares.” Strong editorial support from the TAMPA TRIBUNE and ST. PETERSBURG TIMES helped make the case and courage on the part of the majority of the county commissioners seem to make the possibility of our “care” for a small portion of the county’s homeless within reach. Once approved, finding the necessary private and public financial backing and seeing what level of support the various political units can provide will be necessary.

On the other side of the Bay, Pinellas Hope is ready to start construction of apartments to be used as transitional housing for those moving toward independent living. Made possible because of government grant money, we will also be able to upgrade the sanitary and common areas of Pinellas Hope I. But there are some dark clouds on the horizon occasioned by budget cuts in the county and community budgets. Don’t hold me for the precise numbers but the Diocese in addition to providing the land gives about $350,000 a year additional through Catholic Charities. Pinellas County provided $750,000 last year and the City of St. Petersburg $250,000. Mayor Baker has pledged the same amount for the coming year but he will soon be leaving office and Candidate Kathleen Ford has been quoted as saying that while she likes Pinellas Hope as an idea, she also thinks that more of the city’s donation should be spent within the city. Candidate Bill Foster in the past has voiced his support for Pinellas Hope but no present firm commitment. The Pinellas County Commissioners have allocated a paltry one million dollars in the budget for all social service programs. What happens if the present commitment of Catholic Charities and the major political units makes it no longer sustainable – it will have to close unfortunately – just when we are beginning to show significant success in helping close to fifty percent of our overnight, tent city people to independent living and self-sustaining life. Finally, each year over 1.2 million is given by countless Church groups who prepare and serve the evening meals and provide much of the food cost. That is real charity.

So some care for the homeless is manifesting itself in Hillsborough and hope which is at an all time high in Pinellas is severely threatened. If you don’t wish to see this manifestation of what Jesus would do, make your feelings and thoughts known to the Pinellas County Commisson and to both candidates for Mayor of St, Petersburg.

That’s the most I can do in my present condition.

+RNL

This morning’s 5-2 decision by the Hillsborough County Commission to allow Catholic Charities to open a second site for the homeless in the bay area (Pinellas Hope has been function for almost two years now) is something just short of miraculous. Until this morning there had been scant indications that the Commissioners would support a new temporary housing for the homeless on the only site in Hillsborough County which the diocese might be able to use for this purpose. The news media had reported correctly on the opposition of the residents to the plan, the negative decisions of two regulatory bodies or persons who make recommendations to the Commission about such things, and the seemingly endless uphill challenge of gaining support for the project. Yet hope springs eternal in the minds and hearts of our Catholic Charities Leadership and they never gave up.

The Hillsborough Commission today voted to instruct the staff to change the language which would allow our Pinellas Hope approach of temporary housing (tents to be specific) to be copied on the Hillsborough site. We screen every applicant, police the place literally with off-duty police, assist the homeless in securing the benefits to which they are entitled (Pinellas Hope has been an education to me in how often our Veterans do not know what is available to them in assistance), help them find jobs and most especially provide a safe and secure place for them to live temporarily. Meals have been supplied by countless Church and other groups (the Allegany Franciscan Sisters, for one example, have cooked and served several times in Pinellas Hope) and access to medical attention is also provided as needed. The powerful fusion of public and private support has given lift and life to our presence among the homeless. It is precisely where I think our Church needs to position itself to the care for the “homeless masses yearning to breathe free.”

This is just the beginning step but very significant. I wish to pay special tribute and appreciation to the editorial boards of THE TAMPA TRIBUNE and THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES for their well researched, well-reasoned, and well-spoken advocacy for Hillsborough Cares. In my judgment, they made a huge difference in the outcome of today’s discussion. It is my prayer and my hope that Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg will soon be able to join Metropolitan Ministries and the Salvation Army and the other organizations who work for and with the homeless. Earlier I mentioned that today’s vote was near miraculous. Well if Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta is in need of one more miracle for sanctity, I would be happy to offer today’s happenings.

+RNL

An important hearing is to be held before the Hillsborough County Zoning Board next week. It will largely determine whether or not Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg can be of assistance to Tampa and Hillsborough county in addressing the problem of homelessness. The remarkable success of Pinellas Hope in providing safe shelter to a portion of that county’s homeless population is the model we would like to replicate in Hillsborough. If the residents and politicians of the county in the end want nothing of it, then so be it. I would like to answer some of the questions which seem to arise surrounding this issue:

Why does the Diocese (read that “Catholic Charities”) wish to utilize the property on MLK?

Mostly because it is the only piece of unused property in the county which we can donate to this cause. It is unlikely to be used for Church purposes, is along a bus-route which the homeless need if they are to find work and jobs during the day, and arguably in a more commercial than residential neighborhood.

Why does not the diocese mind its own business and leave the homeless to other agencies?

Quite simply, it is a Gospel mandate to care for the sick, naked, hungry, homeless and we now have some experience of working in collaboration and close cooperation with other political entities to launch a successful approach to the problem.

Where does the Diocese get the idea that homelessness is a problem in Hillsborough County?

From pretty reliable and available statistics. Hillsborough’s homeless and street population is almost five times what that of Pinellas is and was.

What makes a project like this successful?

Two things really, the first being it is a totally cooperative effort of the private and public sectors of a community. Without a mutual commitment of sponsor and community, the challenge is too big for one without the other. We can guarantee that if Hillsborough Cares could be up and running, the Churches of the community would assist in feeding and clothing its residents at a very small cost to tax payers. Second, while it is hard to measure the success of projects for the homeless on the basis of those who are helped permanently out of their jobless, homeless situation, a shelter program like this enhances the chances.

What happens if zoning is denied and the civic commitment is not there?

Then we simply tried to do something and failed. We will leave it to history to decide who was right in making and/or opposing the effort.

+RNL

An article in Sunday’s St. Petersburg Times outlined some of the challenges which face Catholic Charities as it attempts to expand its services to the homeless of the five counties of our diocese. The article featured quotes from a neighborhood activist indicating her (and possibly others) strong opposition to the concept of opening a cold weather, safe shelter for qualifying homeless on vacant diocesan property in Hillsborough county. It was for me a typical “nimby” approach (translated that means “not in my backyard”) to a growing social challenge facing our nation – the rapidly expanding numbers of homeless on our streets.

The neighborhood spokesperson used as one of her reasons a study of Pinellas Hope done by the University of South Florida which was overwhelmingly positive in the first measureable results of the Pinellas Hope experience. The neighborhood leader suggested that the study showed that roughly twenty per cent of the homeless were not able to graduate into permanent housing and jobs. Actually the study showed that our first venture into the homeless shelter concept was quite successful, even surprisingly successful in placing homeless people in jobs and residences which were affordable and sustainable. Catholic Charities is not in this for just a “band-aid” response but to move as many off the street into a respectable and sustainable life. Our graduation rate is higher or at least as good as the high school graduation rates of the Pinellas and Hillsborough schools.

If in the end the civic authorities do not wish us to assist them, then we will move on to Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Any good thing done for the destitute and down-on-their luck population should meet the Lord’s criteria for the final judgment: I was in your neighborhood, your backyard, homeless, hungry, without a job or clean clothes, medicine or good hygiene and you took me in. It all proves once again how hard it is sometimes for the Church to do the good the Lord expects of us.

+RNL

Last week I wrote about the experience some of the staff of the Pastoral Center and I had last Tuesday night at Pinellas Hope. About fifty of our employees eschewed their own Christmas party and chose to spend the evening feeding and serving the homeless at Pinellas Hope instead. In that blog entry I mentioned that an anonymous person had pledged $100,000 if we could match it before the end of the year. It has been matched, and then some, and here are details of which I was not aware last week.

If Pinellas Hope is able to raise $1,000,000 of in-kind assistance (meals, food, service hours, etc. count in this category), $260,000 in donations, and $140,000 in donations for capital projects on the site, then the Pinellas County government will release $700,000 it has budgeted and is holding to support Pinellas Hope this year. Out in search for the $400,000 which Catholic Charities must provide, Sheila Lopez, the great lady of Pinellas Hope and Catholic Charities read an article which said that the wife of the financier and philanthropist Warren Buffet was willing to give to homeless projects throughout the country. So Sheila called Mrs. Buffett and amazingly reached her. After explaining Pinellas Hope to Mrs. Buffett, she agreed to give $100,000 if it was matched by December 31, 2008. That’s all Sheila Lopez needed to hear. They have now exceeded the $100,000 needed for the match. Two very generous members of the diocesan family have given me checks in the amount of $5,000 for Pinellas Hope in the last two weeks and today I accepted a check from the Sun Bank Foundation for $35,000. The donations continue to come in what I believe to be a simply amazing response to a great human need which our diocesan Church through Catholic Charities and its partners are meeting in an innovative and successful manner.

No one who has ever visited Pinellas Hope has left with anything less than profound admiration and pride for what is being done there. Tomorrow night I join the remaining thirty-five of my fellow staff members of the Pastoral Center in serving the last of the two meals which substitute for our Office Christmas Dinner/Party.  On Christmas eve, Father Bob Morris will celebrate a Vigil Mass for Christmas at 6:30pm at Pinellas Hope and at that time the statue of the infant Jesus will be placed in a manger which sits in a tent just like those occupied by the 285 present residents. All this is possible because “angels we have heard on high.”

There is also a small glimmer of hope from the county across the Bay that we may still be able to launch a “Hillsborough Cares” center. That would be simply amazing.

+RNL

The Diocesan Staff seeing replacements for tents

This evening was the first of two nights my wonderful colleagues and collaborators in the diocesan offices have chosen for serving the evening meal at Pinellas Hope, the homeless shelter located in central Pinellas county on diocesan land. The staff of the Bishop Larkin Pastoral Center, the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal, Spirit FM, and Catholic cemetarys are foregoing Christmas parties this year, choosing instead to cook and serve two meals prior to Christmas at Pinellas Hope. There were over sixty of us, cooking, serving, visiting and cleaning up.

Waiting the arrival of the Christ Child

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