Saturday, June 27, 2026

Right up front the wagons were circled. The RVs. The first impression from entering the homeless encampment at the end of 4th Street in Oakland as we went out Saturday morning with the Missionaries of Charity, the Sisters who follow St. Teresa of Calcutta, to deliver a hot lunch, fresh fruit, hygiene kits and more. The Order of Malta van was loaded with 45 hand prepared meals and supplies.

We have been here before at this location, usually going much deeper down the twists and turns under the overpass and along the slough, further into the recesses to find our Lords living unseen, unknown, and ignored, other than when it comes to NIMBYs. A community no one wants to be a part of or visit other than a few, such as the dear working Sisters and Order of Malta Oakland Region members and volunteers.

This Saturday we stayed close to the entrance as several women living upfront in the encampment helped us find their neighbors nearby. Thy knew who might be “at home” in their RV or shelter, who needed an extra meal, hygiene kit, or some highly coveted dog food. With the Sisters, we were also on a mission to find Phoebe, a young teen quickly blossoming out of prepubescence, and her dad. We met them before and wanted to make sure they were ok, especially Phoebe. After repeated knocking, Phoebe finally came out of the trailer sleepy eyed, grimy, questionably clad, and her dad followed out about 5 minutes later. Not much said, just a nod and a couple words as we handed out lunch and supplies. Like any dad, I wondered how much more his worries might be over Phoebe. Or was he inured to their current reality, numbed by the day-to-day existence and survival.

Word was getting around that we had food. Near Phoebe’s trailer, David came over to get lunch from us. He was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt, and the first thing I noticed was beautiful elaborate ink on his arms and shoulders. David’s eyes lit up after shaking hands, exchanging names and a few compliments about his tattoos. You could see the visible change as he engaged in a brief conversation, the esteem which opened his heart to prayer and a blessing before parting ways.

A person’s name is the cornerstone of their identity. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, the stone the builders rejected. How simple and beautiful in the moment to ask our brothers and sisters, our Lords we are serving, their name.

We should not exalt ourselves, but with humility and love associate and walk with the lowly. Words from The Didache

By Anne Brussok

Pictured: Larry Silva; Melissa Silva, Prov.; Gregory Smith, Prov.; Anne Brussok; and Calvin Duenez, Vol.