Let me tell you about an encounter I had last weekend.

I drove to Plymouth, Massachusetts Friday for a meeting Saturday of the Sisters of Charity Federation Associates from the Boston area. I was co-facilitating the meeting. Plymouth is where the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower landed in 1620, a time when Vincent was serving the poor and ill in Paris. There was some confusion about the meeting location and I met two members of the Sisters of Charity – Halifax, Sister Martha and one of her Associates, who were at the incorrect location. It was early so they went for coffee while I called the co-facilitator to verify the meeting site. I waited in my car for the coffee drinkers so I could lead them to the meeting.

I was the only car parked in a large parking lot. I faced the street, just steps from the sidewalk. My window was open to enjoy the beautiful morning, to watch the sun sparkle on the ships in the harbor, and to listen to the gulls.

Then I noticed her, a homeless woman walking on the sidewalk toward me. She was pulling a hand cart behind her and carried a tote in her other hand. Both were filled with all her worldly belongings. She and her mix-matched clothing appeared clean . I took some cash from my wallet and, as she reached my car, I put my hand out of the open window and offered it to her. She was surprised and eager. Carefully, she put her cart and tote down and stepped near to accept the money. She thanked me several times, we exchanged brief pleasantries, and I said God bless you. She was about to turn to leave but then faced me, peered into the car, and asked if I was ok, was everything was alright. I smiled and said yes, I was fine, I was waiting for two friends. Then I added that perhaps I was waiting for her. She smiled and then carefully retrieved her bags and continued walking up the sidewalk.

I sat in silence by what had happened. The grace of the moment was not my giving alms to the stranger, but that the stranger welcomed me and inquired of my well-being. A Vincentian encounter!

The duo returned, and they followed me in their car as we set off for the meeting. As I pulled out of the parking lot I noticed my lady friend sitting on a cement ledge by the nearby building. We waved to each other at the same time and that warmed my heart.

My dear colleagues, may blessings like that be plentiful to us,

Rosemary Carroll