During the coronavirus, the German cardinal opens a seminar to feed the homeless

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne opened the archdiocesan seminary to feed and protect the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic. The seminar was partially emptied due to renovations and the students were sent home and lessons were suspended in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The cardinal announced the project for the first time on Sunday 29 March. "I decided to open our seminary for the homeless while our seminarians went because of the crown restriction," said Woelki on Sunday.

"We want to offer hot meals and access to toilets and showers to those who have no one to turn to in Cologne these days."

The seminar opened its ministry to the homeless on Monday, offering meals in a dining room with 20 individual tables, so that those who enter can be served, while adhering to guidelines on social distancing.

CNA Deutsch, the German Catholic sister organization of the German Catholic Agency, reported on March 30 that food is managed by the general vicariate of the archdiocese and that hygiene and safety standards are controlled by Malteser, the Sovereign's medical organization. Military Order of Malta.

In addition to food, the seminar offers access to showers for both men and women, with services open on Saturdays to men between 11 and 13 and women between 13 and 14. The archdiocese says it plans to serve between 100-150 people.

Although homeless shelters remain open in the city, social removal and other measures taken to stop the spread of coronavirus have increased the normal difficulties faced by homeless people. In Cologne, Caritas pointed out that those who rely on begging on the streets now have far fewer people to whom they can ask for assistance.

"Many of the people on the street are just hungry and have not been able to wash for days," said Woelki on Monday.

The seminar is partly managed by volunteers from the archdiocesan youth center, as well as by theology students from the schools of Cologne, Bonn and Sankt Augustin.

"Today I had the opportunity to welcome the first 60 guests to our (temporarily) dedicated seminar," said Woelki on Monday via Twitter. “Many have a great need. But how stimulating it was to see young volunteers and a sense of community. "

"Our congregations are not only congregations of worship, but also congregations from Caritas, and every baptized Christian is not only called to worship and profess the faith, but also to charity," said the cardinal, adding that the Church's call to service can never be suspended.

The archdiocese also announced Sunday that it is providing medical treatment to six Italian coronavirus patients in need of intensive care. The patients were flown by air from northern Italy, the region most affected by the virus, by the German Air Force and by the government of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Cardinal Woelki called medical treatment "an act of international charity and solidarity" with the Italian people.