For Catholics living in the modern United States, almsgiving can be an impersonal concept that begins and ends with dropping a few dollars in the collection basket. 

However, an organization, Christ in the City, takes almsgiving to a deeper level by personally serving the homeless in U.S. cities.

On Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Gentile Gallery, four Christ in the City missionaries shared their ministry with Franciscan University by screening their documentary “Homeless But Human.” 

The 40-minute documentary spotlights Christ in the City’s work in Denver, the city that houses their national headquarters. The documentary shows the daily life of missionaries, features touching interviews with the people they serve and explains the twofold mission of Christ in the City. 

Young adult missionaries participate in a daily rhythm of faith formation, community time, and street walks. According to the documentary, Christ in the City is a Catholic organization, providing missionaries with easy access to the Sacraments. Additionally, missionaries grow in their faith through friendship.

Many of the missionaries interviewed in the documentary share that the community aspect of Christ in the City has been integral to their growing faith. Missionaries all live in the same house: doing chores together, eating together, and praying together. In the film, one missionary says that he found deeper brotherhood serving in Christ in the City than in his college fraternity.  

Each group of missionaries walks the same street route every day. They minister to the people along their route by simply making friends. The documentary emphasizes that Christ in the City is a relational ministry. Often the homeless have a background of wounded relationships, and Christ in the City attempts to fill that gap by befriending each person. 

“Homeless But Human” features beautiful interviews with some of those friends. Viewers meet Chuck, who left home at twelve years old but eventually applied for housing through Christ in the City. They also hear the story of Mama Jerri, a blind and deaf woman who finally reunited with her sister after decades of separation. 

These stories highlight Christ in the City’s overall mission. First, Christ in the City forms young adults for service through community and faith. Second, the organization serves the homeless by meeting their human need for loving relationships. “Homeless But Human” is evidence that this approach is changing many lives. 

Students who missed the documentary showing can watch “Homeless But Human” on the Catholic streaming platform Formed. To learn more about Christ in the City or apply to become a missionary, students should visit christinthecity.org .