Patrick Batuyong-Clean Street Team Manager

Blog Item:

Hi Everyone:

I have chosen some lyrics from one of my favorite tunes “One Moment In Time” by Whitney Houston to express my thoughts at this writing.

“You're a winner for a lifetime.

If you seize that one moment in time

Make it shine “…

I have been serving the homeless community in Atlanta since 1995 when I began my life work [and ministry] at Crossroads Ministry, 420 Courtland St. Thirteen years later, I see many of the same faces as I saw then, much older, much wiser. Many have gained self-sufficiency, moved forward and are successful. Still others I know continue in their “old ways” and all I can do is smile, be present to them, do what I can to make “That moment in time shine for them”. A smile, a laugh, a tear, a chewing out, a stern talking to (if needed) all tapered with compassion and tough love. What hurts is I am now seeing 2^nd generation homelessness. Children of some of the men and women I have served over the past 13 years. Their own parent’s mere children themselves when I met them either at Crossroads or The Rock. Now they are young adults struggling to change their lives with our assistance and help in The EDGE Program. The EDGE Program the employment preparedness program at Samaritan House of Atlanta, Inc.

The work I do at Sam House is both my work as a second career priest and service to the homeless is a viable part of my ministry. Many people think that I was hired as a priest with Samaritan House…because everyone calls me “Father Patrick”.. Let me set the record straight….I was hired as “Patrick” and not Father Patrick…… However, the work I have done as Fr. Patrick in the homeless community [of Atlanta] over the past 13 has made my name a household word in many settings and conversations throughout Atlanta.

I started my work in Urban Ministry late in life (Age 52). The years have passed and I am now 65 years old, yes - older but wiser. Still working to end homelessness, still the hard shell on the outside, but under that shell, [the softy] the compassionate and loving person that struggles daily with what I call the “Theology of No”…… No, we can’t help you because you aren’t helping yourself to move from homelessness……….. It is like that old Catholic story many of you may have heard about… One day God checks the front gate of heaven and asks the Gatekeeper “ How are things going?”. Well, the Gatekeeper sees he has God’s ear and says. “Fine, with the exception that when we turn people away from the front gate, they just go to the back gate and your mother lets them in anyways”…. So goes it with me… Too often, I am letting them in the back gate for breakfast because of the words, “For when I was hungry ..you gave me to eat”.. We never know when we may entertain angels, even in Samaritan House. I end as I began..

“You're a winner for a lifetime. If you seize that one moment in time Make it shine “…

Patrick (Batuyong)