One cold Sunday morning several decades ago a newly married couple attended Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver, Colorado. The husband, a Catholic, brought his young bride to worship there. The wife, a faithful Christian, was unaccustomed to the Catholic Church. She had vowed to herself to keep an open mind.

They found a seat about a third of the way to the front. The young wife admired the ornate church and beautiful stained glass windows. She noticed a homeless man two rows back sitting on a pew. He did not appear to be worshiping. He merely sat quietly, as though he just wanted to get warm. About halfway through church the usher came and motioned to the man to get up out of the pew. The man followed the usher toward the back of the church and through the door. The young bride was incensed. She stewed in the pew. She thought that surely that usher could have let the man stay at least until the end of the service. What kind of church was this anyway, she fumed.

Ten minutes later the usher returned with the man and guided him back to the pew. The man had a sandwich in his hand, a new hat on his head and a new scarf around his neck.

The usher never knew the ministry he provided that day. He surely knew that he had helped one homeless man. Did he know how his kind gesture affected the young woman? She joined the Catholic Church one year later. She worshiped each week, beside her husband. They raised their children in the Catholic Church. Over the years the woman volunteered at a food bank and a homeless shelter.

She continues to be active in her parish. She and her husband of 40 years attend their grandchildren’s baptisms and first communions. The young bride embraced the Catholic Church and the duty to serve others all because of the steady faith of her husband and the kindness of an usher.

This is a true story. This is my story. What is your story?

Debi shared this at the Social Concerns Commission meeting in April, and she kindly agreed to let it be shared here.