The Hour of Mercy Ministry: Lovingly and Prayerfully Serving Those in Need Throughout Our Community

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus calls us to partake in the corporal works of mercy — “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

In downtown Tulsa, we are given a great opportunity to respond to this call. Every Friday at 3 p.m., all are invited to pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet before the Blessed Sacrament and then go out into the streets to give practical items to the homeless and spend time with them.

“We go out at 3 p.m. to imitate our Lord at the time of His death,” says Meredith White. “We try to imitate the pouring out of His love, hope, and mercy to these people. We give generously of what we have to offer but ultimately, we are there to spend time with these people, to show them that they are seen, loved, heard, and made for relationship.”

Meredith was invited to this ministry by a friend in November of 2020. She was so moved by this experience that she returned over and over again. In the spring of 2021, Fr. Pratt put her in charge of the Hour of Mercy Ministry.

“The Hour of Mercy was started by Fr. Michael Pratt and Fr. David Carvajal,” Meredith says. “They noticed the large homeless population, so they would grab coffee and cookies or whatever they had in their kitchen and share it with those in the streets while taking the time to just be with them.”

Participants have certain routes that they will walk near the bus station and, in particular, the Salvation Army. Since Meredith began coordinating this ministry, members rely solely on Divine Providence to provide the items that they offer to the homeless. Donations are always welcome of any sort. Items include bottled water, protein-rich or nutritious snacks, travelsized hygiene items, dental kits, reusable bags, winter wear, blankets, Rosaries, prayer cards, or old Magnificats.

“We trust that God is putting us where He wants us to be,” Meredith says. “We have the policy of being extra generous. Most places that the homeless visit have limits on how much they can have. We put no limit on our generosity. If the first person we visit with wants everything that we have, we give it to them. Oftentimes, they don’t believe us when we say they can have as much as they want. We will have to prompt them by asking if they want more.”

As St. Teresa of Calcutta once said, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty.” With this in mind, the ministry aims to not just provide the homeless with physical goods. Their main purpose is to treat these people with their Godgiven dignity. God made us for relationship and, above all, the ministry members aim to give that gift of themselves in relationship with those that they encounter.

“When we encounter the homeless, we see that even in their sickness and struggle, they are yearning for relationship and love,” Meredith says. “When you serve the poor in this way, you see that no one would ever choose this intentionally. They are usually stuck in the cycle of addiction and traumas or interior wounds. They are not empowered to leave it and break the cycle.

“We are not there to fix them and help them in physical ways, though we share those resources for those who want them,” she adds. “We are there to be an instrument of God’s love. We love them and give them security of relationship.”

As the homeless population has grown since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Meredith has been working with other parishes in the community to help meet the needs of the people. They have begun similar ministries as well.

“It is truly humbling to encounter Jesus in the poor,” Meredith says. “You are so grateful for what you have and the opportunity to treat them with the dignity that they deserve. So often, they are treated with indifference, so being able to be an instrument of the Lord in this way is a gift. It is hard when you encounter people in their suffering and pain, but it is inspiring to see their joy. It reminds us not to live in complacency, but to live for the Lord in our faith.”

If you would like to find out more about this ministry, or to donate to its important cause, please contact Meredith White at littlelilies918@gmail.com, or visit their website at, littlelilies.info for information.