Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Sunday 02 April |
Saint of the Day: St. Nicholas Charnetsky
Aleteia logo

‘He had a home with us’: Hundreds turn out for funeral of homeless man at Catholic church

HOMELESS FUNERAL SAN FRANCISCO

Mourners line the altar rail to receive Communion from Father Joseph Illo, pastor of Star of the Sea Church in San Francisco, during a Nov. 7 funeral Mass for Thomas Myron Hooker, a homeless man beloved by the community and pictured in a portrait near the altar. (CNS photo/Christina Gray, Catholic San Francisco) See HOMELESS-FUNERAL Nov. 30, 2016.

Deacon Greg Kandra - published on 12/01/16

Need an idea for Lenten almsgiving?

Help us spread faith on the internet. Would you consider donating just $10, so we can continue creating free, uplifting content?

Make a Lenten donation here

Beautiful story, from CNS:

Thomas Myron Hooker lived the last 20 years of his life without a roof over his head, but his death proved he was hardly without a home. Hundreds of people — church families, neighbors, shopkeepers and perhaps even strangers touched by the cheerful kindness and generosity of the man who for years had made camp under a tarp on a street corner in San Francisco’s Richmond District — streamed into Star of the Sea Catholic Church Nov. 7 to express their respect and affection. Hooker had endeared himself to the parish and surrounding community with his gentle spirit. He spent a part of each day praying in the back pews, said Star of the Sea pastor Father Joseph Illo, who eulogized him as “a kind of patron saint of the homeless.” “The meaning of being homeless beyond shelter is when you lack a home, lack a family who understands you. You are homeless when you don’t feel you belong anywhere,” said Father Illo. “Many of us who live in more comfort are more homeless than Thomas was. He had a home with us.”

Read more. 

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him…

Photo: CNS/Christina Gray, Catholic San Francisco

Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Entrust your prayer intentions to our network of monasteries


Top 10
See More