A Run to Raise Awareness

Chairman of the Board for the Bread and Life Soup Kitchen since 1994, Reverend James J. Maher, C.M., wanted to come up with a "New York anchor," that would encourage people to participate in the program. "The New York City marathon was a tremendous New York anchor with the wonderful and natural way the diversity of the city comes together. It's incredibly focused."

Fr. Maher said the opportunity here was to use the energy and diversity that surrounds the marathon "and use at least a portion of it to put a spotlight on hunger and poverty, to raise consciousness about it but also to say, 'You can do something about this. You can make a difference.' That's where the concept really developed."

The 26-mile marathon is a tremendous challenge, Fr. Maher noted. "We're linking it to something else which is also a tremendous challenge. And here there's no finish line and few water spots." This year Fr. Maher finished the marathon in 5:55 and was pleased by all the support he received. A dozen runners joined him, and he estimated that between $10-15,000 was raised with money still coming in.

Through his work with the soup kitchen, "I've learned more than I've given. I've grown more than I've given. It's been a real blessing and a privilege to be in a position of leadership." Fr. Maher stressed that one of the most important goals of the program is to stabilize families and support. Fr. Maher applauded the work of Executive Director Larry Gile, whose hard work has enabled them to use 80 cents of every dollar raised for services to the poor.

The program's location is of special significance to Fr. Maher who noted that is where St. John's University's first campus was located. "I think for the employees (of St. John's) who participate in programs like Fridays in the Soup Kitchen, there's a tremendous anchor for them to go to a place where St. John's started. I think for all of us it has tremendous spiritual value because it's about being connected to your roots."

Fr. Maher's roots in the Vincentian community run deep. His brother, Fr. John Maher, C.M., is a Vincentian, and as a student at St. John's Fr. Jim experienced a great deal of kindness and support from Vincentian priests here. "Coming into contact with those kind of guys gave me a real nice look into the life."

After graduation Fr. Maher volunteered for a year with the Vincentian Service Corps. "I've always felt attracted to the Vincentian mission and charism, and there were many people who were role models for me. I've really been blessed and fortunate with the people I've encountered here and who've been examples about the blessings and challenges of this life."

One of the things that is "embedded" in the Vincentian spirituality, Fr. Maher said, "is opening yourself to meet Christ in the poor and vulnerable." He added, "You always have to be brought back to that. When that's the focus you can tolerate a lot more things and do a lot more things because essentially you're acting out of something that's out of your spiritual core."

As important as it is to serve, Fr. Maher observed that underlying that "you have to be willing to cross over to the world of the poor and be challenged by that in every way and facet of life."