Recently, I visited a remarkable day centre in the south of England that cares for the homeless. It’s called The Vine Centre and it occupies a three-floor corner shop in Aldershot town centre, just near the station. Staffed largely by volunteers, the centre exists to help the neediest in north-east Hampshire. It runs a weekly soup kitchen and, in winter, an overnight shelter on the premises of a local church.
But during the week, it offers hot lunches, career guidance, a food bank, skills training, counselling and advice. Its ethos is thoroughly Christian. Just like in Our Lord’s parable of the Good Samaritan, it offers practical help and accompaniment to anyone in need. It is very much like the “field hospital” Pope Francis wishes the whole Church to be.
