Homeless become teachers at Oregon 'poverty retreat' experience

Published: 2005-12-06

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- Steve Mason, 45, camps in a sliver of woods in Portland. Marvin Williams, 54, sleeps at the mission in the city's Old Town district. Neither is Catholic, but both consider the St. Vincent de Paul Downtown Chapel in Portland their daytime home. Each is willing to talk about the stark lessons of poverty. The men are among dozens of homeless or low-income chapel guests who serve as impromptu teachers for retreat groups spending a day at the chapel. The one-day retreats are meant to be an opportunity for participants to recognize their own need for God and to learn compassion. "I don't choose this," said Mason, whose work making mattresses and box springs disappeared two years ago in a company downsizing. The job loss and the death of his mother were hard to bear, and Mason even considered suicide. He bears the pain now in part by coming to the chapel housed in a three-story building that used to be a hotel. In addition to going to Mass, he frequents the art workshop on the second floor.

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