The Boston Homeless Ministry began over thirty years ago as an outreach effort in Framingham. For the last fifteen years, this much needed ministry has been based at Saint Joseph Parish in Medway. It is an ecumenical effort involving volunteers from Saint. Joseph's Church, Medway, Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, Millis, Saint Mary's Church, Holliston, The First Baptist Church,
Holliston, and the Community Church, Medway.
Prior to the pandemic, 8-14 volunteers would gather on Monday evenings at St. Joseph's Church parking lot and then head into Tremont Street on the Boston Common where they would distribute bottled water, clothes, new underwear, new socks, shoes, coats, blankets, towels, toiletries, winter coats, scarves, mittens, and boots to those who gathered to greet them. Volunteers were continually humbled by the gratitude shown by their homeless friends, who enjoyed the ordinary chit-chat and personal connection offered by the volunteers. These non-judgmental conversations, during which participants recognized the face of Christ in each other, were as important as the items volunteers distributed and a cornerstone of this ministry.
The Boston Homeless Ministry is indebted to the 30+ volunteers who made sandwiches each week and to all who filled our donation bin, located in Fr. Mara Hall at Saint Joseph Church. Until further notice, donations are being redirected to the Saint Vincent de Paul boxes on Barber St. Medway and the bin in Father Mara Hall at 151 Village St.
Since March 2020, the ministry has suspended its operation due to COVID concerns. Please take used clothing to the Saint Vincent dePaul box in the Recotry parking lot at 2 Barber Street.
We are asking for donations of New Packaged Socks & Underwear For Men & Women - All Sizes. Only these two items will be distributed to shelters in Boston area shelters. You may leave these new items at the Donations bin in Father Mara Hall (open 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.) or the Parish Center Foyer (open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Thank you so much for your prayers for our friends who live on the streets of Boston and God Bless you!
If you are interested in learning more about its future post-pandemic, contact Wayne & Sheila Marshall at tesseractsam@yahoo.com.