Holy Thursday Vigil By Fatima Djelmane, Development Director

I got home this morning around 8:00am from my very first overnight vigil. I lay in bed exhausted but happy and reflecting on an amazing night. As Lucio rushed to get off to work he asked, “so, how was it?” I paused for a moment trying to capture everything that went through my mind and heart last night. Like a kid who had just come back from her first trip to Disneyland, I went into an “and then” speech about all of the beautiful things I had experienced. After my little speech, Lucio replied, “that’s awesome…you should write about it.” So here it goes…

Dolores Mission and Proyecto Pastoral (i.e. the Equipo) hosted a vigil last night in solidarity with homeless people and people who have lost or are losing their home due to foreclosure. The vigil was held on Holy Thursday—the night before Jesus was to be crucified. I drove up to Dolores Mission around 9:20pm after a productive dinner meeting and was delighted to see the plaza teeming with people and press. After saying our hellos, we lay our sleeping bags, blankets and cots throughout the plaza. Fr. Scott started the evening with a reflection about the symbolism of the night. Sleeping in the plaza was a simple gesture of solidarity and love for those who feel alone. Fr. Scott connected Jesus’ sense of aloneness and despair the night before he died to what people feel during difficult periods in their life.

Scripture was intertwined with three testimonials. The first testimonial was from a Guadalupano from the shelter who talked about his difficult and lonely crossing from Mexico City to the US. The second testimonial was by a local resident who shared how her family is in the process of losing their home of five years and essentially their biggest dream. The final testimonial was also by a Guadalupano who talked about losing his construction job due to the failing economy and feeling like there was no end in sight. All three testimonials conveyed feelings of loneliness, alienation and desperation. After a moment of reflection to give the crowd time to think about the stories we had just heard, Fr. Scott explained that with our bodies we would show our support for people like the ones who had just given their testimony. We would send a message that they are not alone in their struggle.

The rest of the night I caught up with Proyecto and Dolores Mission current and former staff, reconfirming my admiration and deep respect for the people I have the honor to work alongside. I spent about an hour talking with one of the Guadalupanos who gave a testimony; hearing more about his heartbreaking and inspiring story. I sat around a table in the dark listening to my friends, mentors, and heroes laughing and singing songs about love and loved lost. I looked around the table and felt totally humbled and infinitely blessed to be surrounded by such beautiful human beings. People like Rosa who has devoted over thirty years of her life to make her community a safe and beautiful place. People like Maria who wakes up at 2:30am every morning to cook breakfast for the men at the shelter. People like Rita whose tireless energy and inspiring leadership made me realize from day one why I was called to be at Proyecto. People like Raquel who happily and wholeheartedly advocates and supports all those who find themselves at the shelter’s doorstep. Every single person around that table and sleeping on the plaza last night made me feel proud to be part of a legacy of devotion and unconditional love that has existed in this community.

When I finally got into my sleeping bag and got ready to get a few hours of sleep, I thought about the people who have to sleep exposed to the elements every night. I took a moment to pray for those people and to thank God for my blessings. I made a promise that I would continue to devote my life to sharing my blessings.

The vigil concluded with breakfast this morning. Maria and a few other men cooked chilaquiles, rice, and beans. Cynthia and her mentee Perry joined us at 5:30am to serve us breakfast. She shared with me how moved she was to see the plaza lined with peaceful resting bodies. We all sat around sharing highlights from the night and enjoying our breakfast. I left Dolores Mission still not totally processing all that happened and how it had nurtured my spirit. I’ve concluded that I got a lot more than I gave by sleeping on the plaza last night. It was one of the experiences that reenergizes the soul and reminds me why I love where I’m at and what I do.