I had always seen commercials for Father Joe asking to donate items to his village in downtown, but i had never taken the time to get to know who Father Joe was or did. Until last year, I did not know much about things that went on in different parts of the world, let alone around me. People who have food and a home are sheltered from all the poverty and suffering around them. I took an ethics course at my old school that opened me up to what was going on all over the world. During my ethics course we took a trip to Father Joe's village. That trip showed me a whole different world of living; it showed me what people who are not as fortunate as me are going through, and it showed how they get a chance to try and start a new life. Father Joe helps homeless people all over San Diego have a real chance in life, not only by feeding them, but by helping them get jobs and finish schooling. Father Joe represents all the people who try to help others. He has never had much yet still gives all he can to the people who have nothing.
Father Joe originally lived in the Bronx, with a family of ten, in a two bedroom apartment. When he came to California he had fifty dollars to his name and was wishing for fame and fortune. Soon he had a change of mind and entered the seminary, becoming a priest and working for the parish. The deacon appointed him head of St. Vincent de Paul where there was only a line for meals. To Father Joe, this was only the beginning of helping the homeless. He expanded by making the village where homeless people can stay for a short term, or long term. When I visited I was surprised to see how organized everything was. As I walked around, the people who were living there each had their own chores. I was shown a place where people can get degrees and finish college for free, and where they can get suits for job interviews. My favorite part was they had a dental office so people could have their teeth fixed, which boosts any persons self esteem greatly. It is easily seen that the homeless and less fortunate people are important to Father Joe. If they were not he would have never made the village and most likely stayed working at St. Vincent de Paul doing the minimum. Father Joe saves many peoples lives, which is the best thing a person can do in their own life.
I will cry if I see a sad movie where a person gets hurt. My being an empathetic person is what brought Father Joe into my life. Any time I see someone suffering I can't help but want to do something to help them. Father Joe is one of my idols because he could have easily gone on with his own life making money for himself and living an easy life, but it takes strength for someone to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others. I want to, in a way, be like Father Joe when I'm older because I get joy out of making someone who has less than me or someone who is sad happy. I want to help people all over the world. By seeing how one person could help thousands of needy people, makes me want to do the same. People might think "I'm just one person, what can I do?", but Father Joe is a living example that this is not true, and gives me the hope that I can help many people like him.
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