Relying on God's Providence

by Jacqueline Cyr

In January 2024, seminarian Garrett Peters from the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee was assigned to the Archdiocese of New Orleans to live and work among the poor for three weeks. This was part of the Poverty Immersion Program that introduces seminarians to the anti-poverty work of the Church. A facet of the Seminarian Engagement Project, the program was launched by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Catholic Campaign for Human Development in 2020.

Father Kevin McQuone, director of propaedeutic formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, wishes the program was implemented during his own formation. He said it helps seminarians understand the reality of poverty, a struggle many priests encounter in their parish communities. During his time there, Peters assisted both the Rebuild Center of St. Joseph Parish and the Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative. The Rebuild Center is a coalition of three organizations that work to alleviate poverty in New Orleans: the Harry Thompson Center, Lantern Light Ministry and Depaul USA. 

The Harry Thompson Center focuses on meeting the basic needs of “hygiene, health, hospitality and housing.” In addition, the Lantern Light Ministry gives “encouragement and support to the working poor and homeless.” Depaul USA provides “housing and supportive services to homeless men and women with disabilities.” Depaul USA also offers a wellness program. Jessica Lovell, the director of Depaul USA, said she founded the program to address the underlying causes of poverty and provide a sense of community. 

Before embarking on their mission, the seminarians were given the option to take $20 with them or rely completely on God’s providence. Humbling themselves, they chose to live as the poor they served.  “It was an experience I can’t forget,” Peters said. “It was terrifying to go out with nothing but our clothes and a bus pass. We had to rely fully on the Lord and the resources at the Rebuild Center. But we were provided for in just a few days. In fact, we had more than we even needed.”

  
Living and working among the underprivileged, Peters undertook numerous tasks. With the Jane Place Sustainability Initiative, he informed locals of their rights against unjust housing policies that can lead to homelessness. At the Harry Thompson Center, he cleaned showers and welcomed those seeking resources there. In the Depaul USA wellness program, he attended art and music therapy sessions alongside the community members. Peters was impressed by the faith he found there. When he asked some of the homeless how they persevere in difficult times, they said “trusting in the Lord” is key.   

During a music therapy session he attended, Peters met a man struggling with schizophrenia. Though he suffered from hearing voices for years, the man said, “This year was better than the last.” His gratitude inspired the seminarian to reflect on the importance of giving praise to God in the midst of his own trials.  As Peters approached the end of his time there, a woman receiving aid at the Rebuild Center hosted a farewell party for the seminarians. Surrounded by the love and joy of these people who had almost nothing was awe-inspiring for Peters. They wanted to share what little they had and show their appreciation. 

It was an unforgettable moment for him, one that instilled a deeper love for the poor and an understanding of the challenges facing them. “My eyes opened to the complexity of poverty,” he said. “As the Church, we need to address it in a multifaceted way. We need to address the root causes and meet long-term needs. It requires hard work and action to bring about change.” 

Reflecting on his future as a priest, Peters said he will carry these memories with him and work to address the root causes of poverty when he is blessed to become a shepherd of his own flock. For Peters, Jesus was palpably present in these face-to-face encounters, bringing him to ponder with a new perspective the theological mysteries he has learned about throughout his studies.  

“Reflecting on meeting my friend with schizophrenia, I immediately think of many instances when Christ saw the suffering of those around him and ‘was moved with compassion.’ (Mt 9:36) Since Christ was fully human and experienced the same emotions as we do I can trust that the compassion and love I felt for my friend with schizophrenia are of the same nature as Christ’s human feelings of compassion and love for those around him. My compassion bears some similarities to the sentiments Christ expressed for those he encountered on earth, and this helps me understand the Gospels. 

But furthermore, if St. Thomas Aquinas is right that Christ knew in his human intellect all future events, then Christ also knew me and my life during his earthly life. Presumably, then, he also had fully human feelings of compassion and love for me during his earthly life, indeed feelings of the same nature as those I felt for my friend with schizophrenia. And since Christ retains his human nature in heaven, he must have fully human feelings of love for me, of the same nature as mine for my friend, even now.”