You are here

Hudson interfaith service honors homeless who have died, offers lifeline to those still here

By: 
Matthew Speiser / The Jersey Journal

[The Jersey Journal] The homeless, hungry, and poor congregated inside Old Bergen Church in Jersey City with homeless advocates today for the sixth annual Homeless Persons' Memorial Day interfaith service.

Clergy from houses of worship across Hudson County read from psalms as the homeless community came together to mourn their losses and pray for an end to homelessness.

"This service is a reminder that everyone is a person of value to God," said Rev. Thomas Murphy of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Jersey City. "So many of the homeless who have died, died by themselves and nobody really knew who they were. But God knows who they are and they are not lost."

The service was hosted by Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corp.

"Our goal is to engage the chronically homeless that historically refused services," said Garden State Episcopal Executive Director Carol Mori, who was impressed with the turnout of roughly 200. "We're trying to get them in and link them with services and get them housing."