Our First Steps in the United States: Kansas City, June 2008 We had been in Kansas City, Kansas, for ten days, and it was very muggy in that early June. We had been working all day long to clean the house where we were to live in a few days’ time; night was falling and …
Our First Steps in Latin America: Chile, January 1989 There were two little sisters with the Bishop of Linares and the parish priest in the midst of a field of poor people, in a small “hut-chapel”, made of loose planks. And we were saying to the Lord: “Being mendicant among those who already have such …
“To be beggars in the midst of those who already have such little bread…” Read more.
Cardinal Bergoglio, February 28, 2013 Around the end of February 2013, some little brothers and sisters were called from different European fraternities to come together at Santi Quattro Coronati, our house in Rome. Thirty or so little brothers and sisters would thus be able to represent the Community and accompany the conclave with prayer, there …
Poland, December 2003 There we were, three little brothers begging for something to eat on the outskirts of a city in Poland, on the western side of that broad country; and none of us spoke Polish. We could hardly even pronounce the few words we knew to ask for something to eat. We had travelled …
Vienna, January 2002 January 1st, feast-day of Mary, Mother of God That morning, the streets were deserted; a sort of languor seemed to have descended upon the whole city. On the sidewalks and even right in the middle of the street, lay countless shards of broken bottles. All night long, there had been nothing but …
Argentina, 1992 In a slum in Laferrere on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. We had been there for a few months and for us, the little brothers, those were our first steps on Argentinian soil. Which little shack should we head for now? Which destitute family should we beg our daily bread from? On the …
Our First Steps in Spain: Barcelona, 1986 During one of our first missions, we saw a homeless woman, all huddled up, sitting on the steps of a square. We tried to come nearer. With one hand, that woman was hiding her face, with the other, she motioned us away. Getting used to each other lasted …
Our First Steps in France: Nimes, November 1, 1985 We set off with our backpacks, having received the keys of a house for two nights, the owners of which we did not know; as they were away at that moment …On the first morning, we knelt down to pray before going into the heart of …
Our First Steps in France: Toulouse, 1986 It was in the early days, we were going to the bishop’s palace when two of our brothers amongst the most underprivileged approached us on one of the large avenues, soon caught up by two, then three other friends: “Sisters, you were with us at the soup kitchen …
“Since you’ve been with us,
we aren’t poor people anymore!” Read more.