Ms Linda Hachey is the Executive Director of the Mile-End Community Mission.
This past March, the Mile End Community Mission was invited to participate in week four of a five-week Lenten study organized by The Rev’d Jessica Bickford of Phoenix Community Projects in collaboration with Revd’s Chris Belle, Nick Forte, Amy Hamilton and Roslyn Macgregor. The study, called “Hope and Promise: Companions on the Journey, aimed to explore ways in which hope and God’s promise accompany our spiritual journeys.
As honorary Chaplain of the Mile End Community Mission, Roslyn Macgregor agreed to take the lead on two of the five baptismal promises the Lenten study sought to review: to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
With countless stories of individual and collective struggles for peace and justice unfolding at the Mile End Mission on a regular basis, Ros thought that it would be interesting to develop a little video to help portray a sense of what dignity means to some of our members. In doing so, she felt it might also help open the door to discussion during this Lenten study about some of our shared feelings, experiences and understanding of dignity. Thanks to Nancy Greene-Grégoire, Vice President of the Mission’s board of directors and her husband Jean-Charles, filming and editing of the video soon began.
The video called: Dignity: Christ in Me, Christ in You, grew out of a few conversations on the topic with a group of Mile End Mission’s staff and members. The final version was then presented to the over twenty participants from various churches/parishes who took part in the “Hope and Promise” Lenten study session, shedding light on many different and interesting reflections.
In the video, the creator of the Mile End Mission’s Community Art program, Joanne Racette and a couple of regular participants, Lynda S. and Mary M. discussed dignity through their experience in the art group. The many comments they raised all seemed to point to how “we’re the same when we’re all at the same table” …everyone with their empty canvases, surrounded in an atmosphere of non-judgement.
“Non-judgement is such an important part of showing dignity”, said Linda S. If you are judging someone, how can you be treating them with dignity? “Even though some days were very hard during the Mission’s art group with people transmuting a lot of different energy and behaviours,” Mary M. also observed that “there’s no judgement at the Mission”. Promoting this non-judgemental approach through her approach to art itself, Joanne R. exclaimed “It’s the spirit of the Mission!”
Another member, Linda L., brought up one of her biggest fears – not being remembered, which stems from not having children, getting older, and not having many family members left. During the pandemic, however, she said, “all of you hadn’t forgotten me at all”. That is what the Mission means to me. “They are there to help you carry your cross” and “they do it with dignity”, “respecting people’s boundaries and limits”. This reminded me of when Nancy Greene-Grégoire said that part of dignity for her is being remembered each year by the gang at the Mission to come in and bake cookies for the Open House. Could it be as simple as that? Inclusion!
Linda further recalled the dignity she’s felt through her many interactions over the years with Doris R., who is head of the Mission’s friperie. In essence, Doris’ approach to life has helped Linda see that “you may be poor but you can still be proud”.
For Carleen T., a long-time member of the Mission and head of our meals and Food Bank program, the need to just be human with other members by asking them how they are, by remembering their name, by treating them with kindness as we would all like to be treated is crucial to showing dignity. Thanks to Carleen, in non-pandemic times, the Mission’s Food Bank most often appeared like a family gathering with coffee and food being passed around to members as they sat waiting comfortably for their names to be called to pick up their weekly grocery bags. When Gilles E. would come by with his guitar, he’d often get me and others to sing good old country songs with him to amuse everyone while they waited.
Recently, a local mother of three called to ask if we give out food to people in need. We offered her three big bags of groceries and she was so shocked that it was all so easy. She was expecting the third degree and lots of red tape. Ours is not a typical Food Bank scenario, to be sure. It’s more like a celebration of food, the harvest, sharing, community and caring. Dignified.
Setting a proper table with table cloths, salt and pepper shakers, nice napkins etc. shows our members that we truly care and that no matter their circumstance, “they are our people and they are home”, says Lori Olson, the Mission’s Program Manager and Members’ Advocate. For Missy Olson, our Housekeeping & Food Storage Coordinator, the feeling of joy from giving a homeless person a sandwich, is priceless.
There is joy in dignity! Dignity is non-judgemental. It’s inclusive. It’s kind and compassionate. It’s respectful. It’s love, isn’t it?
As Christians, we are supposed to see Christ in all people, loving our neighbours as ourselves. One of many ‘Christ moments’ at the Mission came to us not long ago as a man who was completely at the end of his rope was talking about suicide. When he told us his story we couldn’t help but cry, especially when he said how much he knew it would hurt his mother. We gave him some money to get to a shelter for the night. It was a sad moment, but at the same time it was a beautiful moment. I think he was as surprized by our sadness for him as we were concerned about his future. While we don’t know what happened to this man, we know that he felt listened to, and that really meant something to him.
Discussions in the five break-out groups following the video presentation were very interesting and touching as many of us shared personal stories and thoughts about dignity. While we didn’t have time to return to the larger group to share what we’d discussed in the break-out groups, it seemed clear that each one of us related to the preciousness of treating others and being treated with dignity. Could this seemingly simple act help lead the way to justice and peace among all people?
