By Denis Brosnan
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 7/17/03)

Despite recent financial cutbacks made by Catholic Charities, Christ House shelter in Alexandria (pictured at right) is still thriving.

Serving over 35,000 meals annually, Christ House has established itself firmly as a mainstay in Northern Virginia. It represents a place where the needy can get a home-cooked meal with a lot of love on the side.

Meals are prepared and served by volunteers from various diocesan parishes. For the Sherwin family of St. Mark Parish in Vienna, being able to volunteer at Christ House offers a unique perspective on life. "Coming here reminds me how lucky and blessed I am," said Jennifer Sherwin. Jennifer, along with her sister Carrie and her parents, Mike and Diann, have been volunteering at Christ House for more than 25 years. "Christ House enables us to give back to the community," said Carrie. "Not to mention we all have so much fun together."

According to the Sherwins, on any given night, Christ House might sound more like a comedy club. "Everyone is laughing and having a good time, and that makes it so much more enjoyable," said Jennifer.

When Catholic Charities announced its financial troubles last month, Christ House as well as Hogar Hispano, were most directly affected. As a result, Christ House can no longer serve as an overnight shelter for the homeless. Instead, the homeless are now referred to nearby shelters. The Emergency Assistance Program was also curtailed.

However, Steve Luteran, executive director of Catholic Charities, is confident that with time, Christ House will be stronger than ever. "We want the Catholic community to know that we aren’t going anywhere," said Luteran. "We are still totally committed to Christ House."

For Luteran, the cutbacks served as a spiritual reminder. "These last two weeks have awakened me to the idea of faith," he said. "I have total faith in God that he will take care of Christ House and make it stronger than we ever could have imagined."

Luteran recalled a recent incident that convinced him of God’s help. "A man walked right up to the door and gave me a check for $1,000. I couldn’t believe it," he said. "The Catholic community has been so helpful throughout this ordeal."

The efforts of those who volunteer for Christ House have not gone unnoticed. "We are very grateful for a place like this," said one client, who asked not to be identified. "If I wasn’t able to come here, I certainly wouldn’t be eating much."

According to Luteran, the chance to help serve the needy motivates him in his day-to-day life. "Coming to Christ House really charges me with energy and reminds me why I do what I do," he said. "I have been given the opportunity to meet many talented and wonderful people."

Christ House is located at 131 S. West Dr., Alexandria and is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 3-7 p.m.

"We’re looking to move forward," said Luteran. "God will not abandon us."