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In a recent retreat, a group of Toronto students discovered the homeless have complex, multi-faceted stories, just like them.
OSV News photo/Bob Roller
May 14, 2026
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In a heartwarming display of compassion and community, 55 Grade 12 students from Marshall McLuhan High School took part in a transformative "Street Retreat" April 28. Led by their chaplain, Linda Izzo, alongside school staff and local religious leaders, the students stepped out of their classrooms and into the heart of downtown Toronto, specifically the intersection of Sherbourne and Dundas, an area often challenged by addiction and poverty. Their mission was simple but profound: to bring light, dignity, and a reminder of God's love to those living on the margins of society. In other words, to bring faith into action.
The retreat took place at the Sacre Coeur Parish, starting at 8:30 a.m. Before heading out into the cold and rain, the students spent the morning preparing themselves spiritually and emotionally. Dominican Friar Prakash led them in prayer using the concept of Lectio Divina. The students then engaged in an eye-opening activity led by Matthew Snowdown and Father Prakash. The students brainstormed the complex causes of homelessness, suggesting reasons such as mental health struggles, addiction, family violence, and fleeing war-torn countries.
To humanize these struggles, students were tasked with creating a profile and story for a make-believe family experiencing homelessness. This powerful exercise was designed to replace condemnation with compassion, and to help students recognize that unhoused individuals have complex, multifaceted stories just like anyone else. The students then “hit the streets” equipped with guidelines on street ministry etiquette.
The students broke into seven groups accompanied by adult leaders including Sr. Roxanne, OP, Vanessa Mackenzie, Valene Cardoso, James Mackenzie, Samuel Huard, Matthew Snowdon and Friar Prakash, OP. Together, they distributed three hundred hand-prepared care packages filled with toiletries, food items, and deeply personalized letters of encouragement. One student's letter beautifully captured the spirit of the day:
"Although I am a stranger, please know I hold you in my heart and in my prayers. You are loved regardless of the obstacles that you may face. With love, from someone who cares."
The encounters on the street proved to be life-changing for many of the young participants. One student recounted meeting a man who had been a physics teacher in Afghanistan. Fleeing a physical war, he now found himself navigating the financial and cultural battles of Toronto yet his gentleness and simple desire to improve his English left a lasting impact on the students. After two hours of street ministry, the students returned to the parish for a pizza lunch and a period of deep reflection.
The stories shared were moving and profound.
"I found God on this street retreat by having the eyes of my heart opened to see that the unhoused people I met were people just like me," one student reflected. "The homeless aren't distant strangers. They are children of God. Just like me."
Another student noted the unexpected warmth experienced in a neighborhood often labeled as dangerous: "Several street people politely asked if they could have one more bag for a friend. Kindness is everywhere, even in the most unlikely dangerous intersection."
The day concluded in the church with a final prayer celebration led by Chaplain Izzo. Drawing inspiration from Pope Francis's message that we are all "walking tabernacles" carrying Christ to a hungry world, she delivered a moving closing reflection. Adapting lyrics from the Christian band The Sidewalk Prophets, Izzo reminded the students that the retreat was not just about bringing bread to the hungry, but inviting everyone they met to the table. "There's no one unwelcome here, that sin and shame that you brought with you, you can leave it at the door and let mercy draw you near Come to the table, you're welcome here," she said.
The 2026 Street Retreat stands as a beautiful testament to the power of empathy. For these Grade 12 students, it was more than just a day of volunteering. It was a powerful lesson in human connection, revealing that no matter our circumstances, we all share a seat at the same table. I am grateful to Fr. Prakash, for preparing this summary and giving me permission to use it in my monthly column.
(Kinghorn is a deacon in the Archdiocese of Toronto.)
A version of this story appeared in the May 17, 2026, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "Students see themselves mirrored in homeless".
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