Carter Boyd, Staff Writer

In our overzealous capitalistic society, the juxtaposition of excessive wealth with desperate poverty exists because of injustice within our government and economy.  Never has there been such a discrepancy between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ in our society; there are too many people living without necessary services such as food, shelter and healthcare.  My summer experience provided me the opportunity to see firsthand those in need and to glimpse how we as a community can help each other.

This summer I spent time serving the destitute in Lawrence, Massachusetts, commuting from Andover, the wealthy neighboring town.  While I had been cognizant of the financial discrepancies in America while I was growing up, this summer presented both extremes simultaneously.  Andover, for the most part, is affluent.  Mansions line the perfectly quaint and red-bricked main street.  The schools are great, the crime rate is low and residents enjoy financial security.  In contrast, Lawrence, called “The City of the Damned” by one Boston publication, is one of the poorest cities in Massachusetts and the nation.  In this poverty-stricken city, I served at the Lazarus House, which functions as a homeless shelter, thrift store, soup kitchen, food pantry and educational resource center for thousands of impoverished men, women and children.

During my interactions with the diverse guests of Lazarus House, I heard countless stories of personal struggle, loss, hardship and pain, but also heard beautiful stories of triumph, blessings and healing.  The eight-week immersive service program illuminated the deep injustices present in our own communities. Although many Notre Dame students have worked with the disadvantaged and down-trodden, many of us live in a bubble while we are on campus, as we are somewhat hidden and distanced from the pains and sufferings of the world.  This makes it difficult to act out against the injustices that affect so many individuals battling to rise above the poverty line.  It is hard to remember how so many people barely make it from day to day when everyone around us seems to have what they need and then some.

There are people in South Bend who frequent soup kitchens, food pantries and homeless shelters within a few mile radius of Our Lady’s campus.  As a reminder of this reality, all students seriously ought to consider visiting Our Lady of the Road, The South Bend Center for the Homeless, The Catholic Worker or any other organization that interacts with the poor in our community.  As part of the university, we need to carry out the mission that has been entrusted to us by our President, Father John Jenkins, CSC, when he said that Notre Dame needs to “heal, unify, and enlighten for a world deeply in need.”

When I look at the Golden Dome, I recognize its beauty, but I also think of the humble woman who gave birth to her precious son in a manger, and how they were appreciative just to have a stable for shelter.  The Basilica of the Sacred Heart has provided inspiration and spiritual growth for many, but I relish going to Mass in the Log Cabin Chapel because of its refreshing simplicity.  Our places of worship and sacramental art are very important to our faith and culture, but I appreciate how Pope Francis is encouraging us all to be less materialistic and simply think more of the poor.  He gave up a nice car and extravagant housing to set an example for us, one of humility and charity.  We should follow our Holy Father’s lead in prayerful thought and consideration of others.

I challenge all of my fellow Domers today to remember those in need just a little more than we did yesterday.  We can raise the bar on serving the poor, sick and downtrodden in the South Bend community.  I encourage you to apply to work in the Summer Service Learning Program through the Center for Social Concerns.  It will be a life-changing experience for you and those with whom you work.  We Notre Dame students can always work harder to alleviate the poverty that surrounds the glow of our dome.

Carter Boyd is a sophomore living in Carroll Hall studying Biology and Spanish.  An avid baseball fan, he hopes the Texas Rangers make the playoffs this year.  He can be contacted at cboyd1@nd.edu.