*Submitted by Pietro Bartoli, Executive Director, Community of Sant’Egidio.*
New York can often feel cold and lonely. Those who take the subway and walk the sidewalks are well-versed in the etiquette, keep your head down and mind your business. But thanks to the Cabrini Mission Foundation, the Community of Sant’Egidio is reweaving a fabric of society, person by person, starting from the most marginalized, the most neglected, those living on the streets.
Twice a week Sant’Egidio gathers over 40 people to distribute food, basic hygiene products, simple clothes, and compassion to over 500 people. “We often say that food is just an excuse to strike up conversation,” says Pietro Bartoli, who directs the Solidarity Project. Sant’Egidio commits to accompanying the folks they meet as much possible, supporting them in recovering vital records, obtaining benefits, finding housing, and reintegrating into the broader community.
They remain steadfast thanks to the description by an old friend, Rick, who has since passed away, but gained fame for telling others, “Sant’Egidio never says ‘no.’ Even if they can’t do it, they try.”
2025 marked an important year for Sant’Egidio, as two friends who had been on the street for more than 20 years combined both celebrated a year in their new private apartments. These long journeys of accompaniment require but also build trust and deep friendship. Through these relationships, the city begins to change, as we continue to think of others as our brothers and sisters.
Particularly emblematic of these relationships are the two summer outings that Sant’Egidio organized this year – first to the Cloisters for their annual picnic and then to Mariandale for their annual retreat.
“It was so nice to be back in my old stomping grounds, to feel the peace and quiet, and just enjoy the day,” said Abe, who moved into his own new apartment one month after the trip. “It gives me hope and something to look forward to.” Moments like these are often taken for granted, but for those who have learned to live with the scorn of others, they are precious glimpses of life.
The overnight trip to Mariandale provided another respite from the burden of summer in the city, and a chance to build a community of friends. A group of 25 people, members of Sant’Egidio and folks they serve, enjoyed two nights together, marked by shared meals, evenings by the fire, and collective prayer. In this prayer, Sant’Egidio underlines and remembers the role that every person, regardless of status or situation, has in building a better world.
“Life is full of uncertainty, especially when you’re living on the streets of New York,” says Bartoli, “but our friends know that they can count on Sant’Egidio, and we know we can count on the Cabrini Mission Foundation, to be at their side, and, in this special Jubilee year, to never give up hope.”
