WASHINGTON – In anticipation of Pope Francis’ September visit
to Washington, the Archdiocese of Washington and its Catholic
Charities arm have launched an effort that challenges members
of the local community to reach out to those in need.
Called the “Walk With Francis Pledge,” the campaign invites
people to serve others in their community and then share
their pledge on social media. The pledge involves three ways
to participate in that “walk”:
– Through prayer and learning about the faith: http://walkwithfrancis.org/pledge/pray.
– Through charitable service to others: http://walkwithfrancis.org/pledge/serve.
– Through taking to spread the Gospel in families, workplaces
and public policy: http://walkwithfrancis.org/pledge/act.
The campaign was announced by Washington Cardinal Donald W.
Wuerl and Msgr. John Enzler, president and CEO of Catholic
Charities, at a July 22 news conference at the agency’s
headquarters in Washington.
“‘The Walk with Francis Pledge’ offers people the opportunity
to demonstrate solidarity with the Holy Father and answer his
call to bring Christ’s love, mercy and hope to others,
especially those on the margins of society,” Cardinal Wuerl
said.
The pledge challenge, the cardinal said, is a reflection of
what Pope Francis calls on all people to do. “His (the
pope’s) challenge to us is to care for one another, to look
out for the needs of each other.”
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to keep our
focus on those whose needs are greater than ours, the
marginalized, the poor, our brothers and sisters,” the
cardinal said.
On Sept. 24, the last day of Pope Francis’ Sept. 22-24 visit
to Washington, the pope will visit with several clients of
Catholic Charities, and then bless the agency’s clients,
staff and volunteers and make remarks to the guests gathered
at lunchtime for the St. Maria’s Meals program run by
Catholic Charities.
Msgr. Enzler noted that he is “beyond excited” as Catholic
Charities prepares for the pope’s visit.
“The pope will stand right here two months from now, this is
a great chance to celebrate his presence among us,” Msgr.
Enzler said of the “Walk with Francis Pledge.”
“The Holy Father’s words are special, but to me his actions
are spectacular,” Msgr. Enzler said in noting how the pope
reaches out to the elderly, the infirm, the imprisoned and
the poor. “All you have to do for the Walk with Francis
Pledge is sign up, take a photo and challenge others. We hope
that 100,000 people locally will take the pledge.”
“You can pray for the pope, read one of his encyclicals, you
can serve in your community or your parish, you can do a work
of justice or something to help change a person’s
circumstances,” he said.
Pledges will be shared on social media platforms including
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag
#WalkwithFrancis. Those who take the pledge can challenge
others on social media to also take the pledge at http://tinyurl.com/os4ptvk.
Cardinal Wuerl will present the pope with a book including
all the social media posts with the #WalkwithFrancis hashtag.
The “Walk With Francis Pledge” is open to all people, not
just Catholics, Cardinal Wuerl said, because “our Holy Father
seems to touch the hearts of everybody.”
“The Holy Father’s visit is the cause of great excitement all
over the community and in fact all over the country. He is
hugely popular because he is seen as a person who cares for
all people, especially those in need,” Cardinal Wuerl said.
“You can take the pledge in any language. Everybody is
invited. This effort includes everyone who wants to be a part
of it.”
The cardinal added that “we invite all in our community to
share in the opportunity to help others. Our goal is to allow
everyone to enter into a physical, tangible way to help
others.”
At the news conference, Msgr. Enzler and several local
celebrities took the “Walk With Francis Pledge.” Msgr. Enzler
said that his pledge is to spend a night with the homeless
served by Catholic Charities.
Among those taking the pledge was Montgomery County Executive
Isaiah “Ike” Leggett, of Maryland; the county is part of the
archdiocese.
Leggett promised to donate money to Catholic Charities, and
he also vowed to make personal efforts. “This (‘Walk With
Francis Pledge’) is something that can touch our community
and touch our world,” he said.
Olympic gold medal swimmer Katie Ledecky, University of
Maryland head basketball coach Mark Turgeon and Washington
Nationals pitcher Craig Stammen have either already taken the
pledge or will have videos made of them making the pledge.
Robert Crawford, a formerly homeless man who was assisted by
Catholic Charities and now volunteers there, was among those
taking the pledge.
“I’ll take the pledge. I was homeless for four years, so I
know what it means when people help,” he said. “My pledge
will be to help somebody trying real hard to get themselves
together.”
Fred Sarran, a member of Congregation Har Shalom synagogue in
Potomac, Maryland, who works at Catholic Charities, also
promised to take the pledge. He said that he and his family
would volunteer on Christmas Day to feed the homeless so that
Christians could be with their family. He added that he also
would challenge members of his synagogue to take the pledge.
“Since being elected pontiff, one of the things that Pope
Francis has highlighted in his ministry has been concern and
care for the poor and the marginalized. In doing so, he is
reminding us of something that the Catholic Church has always
done – feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty,
clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, and visiting the
sick and imprisoned,” Cardinal Wuerl said.
“It is my hope that we can all take inspiration from Pope
Francis’ example and our entire community can join together
to help brighten our world in this way,” he said.
Szczepanowski is a staff writer at the Catholic Standard,
newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington.
