The Olallo Centre celebrated its 10th birthday on 25 and 26 November. This Centre looks after homeless people and migrants, as a project implemented by the West European Province of the Order jointly with the female Congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God in central London, close to King’s Cross station. The West European Province runs the Centre, which is supported by a network of other Church, governmental and private organisations and a very large number of food donors. This kind of networking will certainly soon spread to other European Provinces.
The Centre provides a wide range of services:
- Care for the homeless in the traditional manner
- Care for migrants (teaching
them English and helping them to deal with the authorities)
- Providing care for homeless TB
patients following hospital discharge.
In the course of the celebration, an image of St John of God was created, composed of more than 10,000 TB patients’ x-rays.
On 25 November Bishop McAleenan presided at the Solemn Mass followed by a classical music concert.
On 26 November the 10th birthday ceremony was held with a short Conference on immigration and homelessness care in London.