Tower Topics ~ Spring 2004

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Inner City Weekend: Perspective replaces misconceptions

by Abby Simons

nduring more than six years in a Thai refugee camp and Vietnamese prison solely because of his religious convictions gave 41-year-old seminarian Van Nguyen a taste of what hard times truly are.

It also proved an advantage in November as he ministered to the poor and downtrodden of Kansas City during the annual “Inner City Weekend” sponsored by Conception Seminary College’s Apostolic Program.

“Through my experience in prison and refugee camps, I met a lot of people who belonged to different religions,” he said. “I learned that even though they don’t belong to my religion, they also believe in God.” Nguyen said he carried that ecumenical spirit to the streets of Kansas City. “I could tell them about God and connect with them,” he explained. “I felt like I gave something to them.”

Nguyen was among 14 seniors and pre-theology students who participated in the Nov. 15-16 weekend led by Apostolic Director Father Sebastian Allgaier. Departing the quiet comfort of Conception’s rural campus, the seminarians served lunches at the City Union Mission Family Center, celebrated Mass with the largely African-American congregation of St. Monica parish, and hit the streets to hand out food and clothing through Uplift, a meals-on-wheels program for the city’s homeless population. Students also gained a sliver of the struggles of the homeless by sleeping on a gym floor at the St. Monica School. Each experience with the needy, Father Sebastian said, was a lesson that surpassed those found in the average theology textbook.

“We’re trying to expose the students to different environments than they would typically be accustomed to,” he said. “It’s a hands-on experience, and from a liturgical perspective, it’s also very valuable. Christ said to take care of the poor, to feed and clothe them. As future priests, it will be their duty to minister to these populations.”

For senior Aaron Spexarth, Inner-City Weekend was a valuable wake-up call. Growing up one of five siblings in Colwich, Kan., Spexarth tended to his share of the household chores, including culinary duties. But preparing gallons of spaghetti sauce for the hungry families at the mission, he said, was the beginning of an entirely different encounter.

“People always give canned food items and clothing for charities and don’t worry about it,” he said. “Well, this was the other side of it. We actually gave those things out.” Spexarth said he appreciated the opportunity to talk with people who had suffered hardships beyond his more fortunate upbringing. He was struck by how gracious the people he met were. “When we went to the streets,” he said, “they honestly came from all around and would show such a deep appreciation for what we were doing.”

While admitting that the experience was foreign to him and recognizing that one night on the streets was not world-changing, Spexarth said he hoped that he was able to use the blessings of his life to give hope to people who had suffered great loss and endured much abuse.

“I hoped to use the love that I’ve experienced to show them there’s more to life than what they’ve experienced,” he said, “and to show them that God is with them, even though they may not see that.”

In contrast to the cold streets, the next morning the seminarians received a clapping, dancing and singing culture shock during the Sunday Mass at St. Monica’s.

“We come from Conception, where there’s mostly an organ for music, and here they have drums, guitars and tambourines. Even the choir came in dancing,” Spexarth said. “It was something else to get to sing with such welcoming and loving people. The sign of peace took about 15 minutes. It was awesome.”

The long ride back to Conception offered students time for sobering reflection on what they had gained from the trip. Most agreed that previous misconceptions of homeless people were shattered, to be replaced with new perspective and direction.

“These people on the streets don't have the luxury that we do of worrying what tomorrow is going to bring. They worry about getting through today,” said Andy Wickersham of Norman, Okla. “It makes your superficial needs seem less important, and makes you remember what's really important in life.”

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