Faith in the Marketplace

Faith in the Marketplace - October 6
On Friday, October 6, at 7 AM after the 6:30 AM Mass, is the gathering of men and
women parishioners to explore how others live and practice their faith in the
marketplace. Our speaker is Jean-Michel Giraud, CEO and President of Friendship
Place, which has advanced the entire homeless services system in the Washington, DC
for 32 years, serving more than 4,400 people a year. Supported by our parish’s food
ministry SHARE @ BS and other congregations, Friendship Place has a short-term facility
for families, bridge housing for adults, street outreach, a drop-in center, a free medical and psychiatric clinic, numerous shelters, permanent supportive, job placement, and specialized programs for veterans and youth. While retaining the original feel of a small, caring neighborhood organization, Friendship Place’s record of outstanding outcomes is the model for government and nonprofit entities around the country wishing to replicate its success. Despite our neighbors initially arguing in1991 there were no homeless people in upper Northwest, so services for them were not needed, Friendship Place is a working, successful and a vivid demonstration of practical faith at work in a critical “marketplace.”

All are invited and urged to bring a friend, Friday, October 6, to the Duffy Center for an
intriguing and insightful discussion of how our community can address and alleviate
homeless in the spirit of Friendship Place.