Street Ministry

The street ministry is the primary ministry that serves the women of the downtown eastside of Vancouver and central Surrey.

We deliver candy bags to the women of the street. It is worth, if I'm being generous, is perhaps 50 cents. It contains two bite-sized chocolates, an assortment of candies and a small card.

Looking at this small, insignificant bag, if I told you to consider it to hold a beacon of unconditional love within it, would you believe me?

That this wee package contains also hope and a chance at a new and beautiful future, would you believe me now?

What if I told you that each piece of candy and chocolate are gently placed within the bag, the candies are carefully selected, and a thoughtfully considered prayer card of hope with numbers to detox and recovery houses on the reverse was placed inside, would you believe me then?

That each package has small ribbon to hold it together. Each small ribbon, is not just tied in a knot, but a bow - each bow is carefully made so that it is neither too tight, nor to loose. The ribbon is carefully pulled into curls, with each placement of chocolate, each piece of candy and every curl representing an act of love dedicated to the women of the street.

If I told you that people from all over BC send chocolates and candies to an organization to help the women of the street, what would you think?

They do.

If I told you that many the women of the street collect each prayer card, would you believe me? They carefully look at each little bag and try to find a new ray of hope that has been thoughtfully made especially for them. Some women post each card on their walls, others collect them in boxes, others slowly read them on the street and you can watch them as they carefully tuck them into their pockets for safekeeping.

This small bag of candy is not just two chocolates, an assortment of candy and a prayer card. It is a devoted act of unconditional love from Jesus expressed in each small bag created by hundreds of individuals just like you and given to dozens of women of the street each and every night.

This small grouping of cheap candy can bring

~ peace to the desperate

~ joy to the pained

~ and love to the rejected.

That's what Street Ministers get to hand lovingly to every woman of the street that they meet.

Our general requirements are the following:

• Minimum 19 years of age*

• Christian

• Must adhere to the doctrines of the Catholic Church at all times

We seek:

• A strong prayer life

• Involvement with their parish/church on an ongoing basis

There are other requirements, but these are the basics. As with all volunteer/servant positions, it is strongly recommended that they attend the monthly Education Seminars (Sep-May) and our quarterly Days of Reflection.s