On the Edge – Day One

St. Ben’s Ministries and the Republican National Convention

By Fr. Mike Bertram, OFM Cap., Capuchin Community Services Ministry Director

The St. Ben’s Ministries are situated on State Street between 9th and 10th Streets. One of the security borders for the Republican National Convention runs along 9th Street, literally alongside the St. Ben’s property. Barricades have gone up, preventing people from moving further into the city from 9th Street.

The St. Ben’s Ministries have not only continued its operations, but have expanded services for the week of the Convention. The Meal will run as usual from Sunday night through Thursday night. Additionally, the overnight shelter program will be reopened for the week. Last night, provisions were made for as many as 40 men and 20 women; 31 men and 5 women were housed for the evening. The guests were not only grateful for the added service, but offered their help in the care of the program. In the Meal Hall that offered overnight shelter for men, the guests got up in the morning, took care of their linens and stacked the cots so that the room was ready for the Meal tonight. Similarly, the women stored the cots to one side of the room and set out chairs for those who would be coming to the evening Meal. The guests are truly impressive and appreciative for all that they receive through Capuchin Community Services.

Guests to the Meal will normally line up outside of the Capuchin Community Services building until all is readied inside. Last night, a Secret Service agent approached CCS security personnel to inquire about the waiting line being so close to the security zone. The agent’s questions were satisfactorily answered without incident or disruption.

Capuchin Community Services has great relations with Milwaukee County. When CCS services were announced last month, the County asked to help. The temperature for today will reach mid-90’s, and throughout this week, the County will operate a 24-hour Cooling Center close to St. Ben’s so that people can be safe outside of downtown Milwaukee.

An interesting aside: one of the St. Ben’s parishioners asked about being a volunteer greeter who would welcome delegates and visitors to the city of Milwaukee. She was told that in order to do so, she would need to sign a document stating that she believed the 2020 election to be fraudulent. She declined to do so.