The Struggles of Saints

Photo: Star Tribune, Joey McLeister

Perhaps you have been following some of the news in regards to a very possible saint in our midst: Mary Jo Copeland. She is the foundress of Sharing & Caring Hands, which actually comprises three main facilities now: Sharing and Caring Hands which provides homeless people meals (about 4,000 per week), Mary's Place which provides transitional housing for those who are struggling but are working at finding permanent housing, and Mary My Hope which provides teens and children with a clean, safe recreational facility for wholesome activities as well as daytime supervision.

Mary Jo is not new to run-ins with governmental agencies. In the early 1990s, she was planning her transitional housing shelter, Mary's Place (named not after the founder but our Blessed Mother), but had difficulties obtaining the building permits from the City of Minneapolis. After some media attention, she quickly had the necessary permits and construction was underway and completed in 1995. In 2002, she struggled with the City of Eagan and a number of the residents there in obtaining permission to build a 36-acre Gift of Mary children's home/orphanage. Again, after a battle, she obtained the vote of the City Council and was allowed to purchase the land and begin planning the construction. Last year, however, due to insufficient donations and funds to build, the agreement with the city expired and the children's home was cancelled.

Photo: Star Tribune, Joey McLeister
Well, she's at it again, but this time it's not so much because of new initiatives on her part. Rather, what has been (by and large) an acceptable facility for years of feeding the homeless is now deemed to be unsuitably secure and fostering crime in Minneapolis. The threat: Up your security, make it more transparent to the city, or we're removing your restaurant license (which is required for feeding the homeless). The problem: some speculate that this is just a ploy by the city to keep the "eyesore" of homeless people away from the view of fans who will visit the soon-to-be-finished, new Twins Stadium.

As is her strategy, when Mary Jo has trouble, Mary Jo seeks the Light, and the light. Not only does she ask for the assistance of Almighty God, but she gets as much public and media attention as possible and asks for the assistance of others. As discussions heated up and began to come to a climax, Mary Jo held a press conference to publicize what was happening. Support she got: from the Rector of the Saint Paul Cathedral and from many others.

Photo: SharingandCaringHands.org
As is almost to be expected by now, it looks as though Mary Jo will have her way, which, of course, she believes, hopes, and prays is God's way. She has met with the officials and assured them of her efforts to keep crime out of her facilities. The discussions are yet continuing, with a visit to the shelter of officials to review the security procedures, but it looks as though the conflict will be resolved.

Perhaps the motivations for attempting to close down Sharing and Caring Hands' food-kitchen were a bit suspect and illegitimate. Either way, Mary Jo once again holds her ground. She is a magnificent woman with a huge heart and a beautiful soul. She may be a thorn in many a side, but that's probably only because the saying applies to her which goes: "Saints are the hardest people to live with."