The marginalized populations served by the Spiritan presence today in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are multifaceted. There are dilapidated buildings in the midst of homelessness. There are substance abuse and addiction problems. There is open drug business absorbing the time and life of youths. All these happen in the atmosphere of a “secular city” where some bridge the gap of distance with the help of mobility to attend churches they have roots in; and many others no longer consider churches as places of spiritual solace. 

The challenge these pose is not that of fear but how to navigate pastorally in an environment different from what the earliest Spiritan missionaries encountered.

Our facility is used for the Catholic Charities Head-Start program, we run food distribution centers, and we host COVID-19 clinic for vaccination and booster shots. Equally, several community groups use our facilities for their meetings. With these, our presence in the community is not in doubt; but the presence of the people where the good news can be preached is not commensurate. Therefore, if mission is to share the good news, how can one proceed where the baits of social outreach are limited by governmental concerns that do not endorse the proselytization of people in programs where their hands are?

The above paint the picture of what we encounter in the parish communities of St. Edward and St. Gregory the Great, Baltimore. Their fit as Spiritan missions go beyond being places where the local church has need for pastoral workers—which is very true. There are also some who have only scarcely heard the gospel and others too, who see the church only as social outreach centers. Equally, witnessing to the systemic destruction and violence occasioned by chemical substance usage, one is reminded that part of the essence of Spiritan mission is the integral liberation of peoples—especially in areas of self-awareness and self-actualization.
Consequently, being in the inner city of Baltimore is authentically Spiritan. Being here at this time when the Archdiocese has begun the process of re-envisioning her future in the city is equally important. When the initiative was launched, some called it a déjà vu, that will amount to nothing. Some others felt that it was a pretext to close down parishes—a pain that was felt more in African American parishes. However, the leadership made it clear that this time is different and it is not a question of if the church will remain in the city but the nature of that presence going further. This is projected to be a two-year review, that began with key stakeholders meetings in the Summer. Following this are series of public meetings where the pertinence of the initiative are presented. There will then be parish visitations, to be followed by a focus group-like set of meetings—all aimed at carrying everyone along.

From the foregoing one sees a well-articulated schedule in order to accomplish this project. According to the Auxiliary Bishop Bruce Lewandowski who has this project as part of his portfolio, it is only at the end that a better picture can emerge of how to define the church’s presence going forward. 

For now, we are immersed in our ministries of presence, pastoral animation, social outreach, and the spirit of availability to help wherever we are needed. We believe that the more we gain the trust of the few who come to celebrate the mysteries of our faith, the more they will be willing to open their hearts and doors to us for a fuller pastoral animation in a character that is authentically Spiritan.