By Alicia CruzSenior writer
theblackurbantimes.com
Father Chase Has Been a Blessing To Those on Skid Row For 24 Years
At a time when all we hear about are lawsuits against Roman Catholic Priests, it's refreshing to read a story highlighting a wonderful deed by a Priest. To commemorate his 90Th birthday, Father Maurice Chase took to Skid Row and meted out $15,000 in cash to the homeless residents outside of the Fred Jordan Missions in Los Angeles.
"This is the Lord's work," Chase said as he shuffled along the motley assemblage watched over by police officers. "I come out here to tell them that God loves them and I love them, that someone is concerned about them."
"This is the Lord's work," Chase said as he shuffled along the motley assemblage watched over by police officers. "I come out here to tell them that God loves them and I love them, that someone is concerned about them."
At 90-years-old, Father Chase is more active and tenacious than some twenty-year olds. His schedule begins long before sunrise and by mid-morning, he's on Skid Row prayng with and for the homeless. Father Chase has been a constant figure along Skid Row where he has given away cash, plastic rosaries and blessings every Sunday on the same corner for 24 years.
Several hundreds of people await his presence every week, lined up in primary order as the Father sees fit: handicapped, women and children, couples and single men. Father Chase always arrives on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but this is the first year he's spent his birthday in the downtown neighborhood where people live mainly in shelters and on urine-stained sidewalks. "It's the place that makes me the happiest. I just love it," said Chase, who wore a Notre Dame baseball cap and a patched, fraying cardigan over his clergy shirt. "I look forward to coming here."
Where did he get the money, you ask? It all came from donations he receives from rich and famous people he has met during his long tenure as assistant to the president of Loyola Marymount University. Individuals such as philanthropist Eli Broad; Dolores Hope, Bob Hope's widow; Barbara Sinatra, Frank Sinatra's widow; and Bob and Ginnie Newhart.
Father Chase, a California native, retired from Loyola about a decade ago. The crowd broke into choruses of "Happy Birthday" several times. A few regulars presented him birthday cards, to his delight.
Travis Kemp, a 51-year-old double amputee with long wavy black hair, was one of the lucky 20 to receive $100. He said he had no special plans for spending the cash. "He has a lot of respect from me," Kemp said. "I know I couldn't do it." Others noted that outsiders usually come to donate food on Skid Row. Annette Matthys, who's trying to rehab herself from a crack cocaine addiction, said she is present at the Skid Row location every week and usually receives a dollar or two from Chase. She claims to use the money to buy cigarettes or do her laundry.
"He's got a heart," said the 56-year-old woman who sleeps on the sidewalk when she can't find a shelter bed. "I never saw anyone like him. Some people are generous, but this guy ... I can't even describe it."
Where did he get the money, you ask? It all came from donations he receives from rich and famous people he has met during his long tenure as assistant to the president of Loyola Marymount University. Individuals such as philanthropist Eli Broad; Dolores Hope, Bob Hope's widow; Barbara Sinatra, Frank Sinatra's widow; and Bob and Ginnie Newhart.
Father Chase, a California native, retired from Loyola about a decade ago. The crowd broke into choruses of "Happy Birthday" several times. A few regulars presented him birthday cards, to his delight.
Travis Kemp, a 51-year-old double amputee with long wavy black hair, was one of the lucky 20 to receive $100. He said he had no special plans for spending the cash. "He has a lot of respect from me," Kemp said. "I know I couldn't do it." Others noted that outsiders usually come to donate food on Skid Row. Annette Matthys, who's trying to rehab herself from a crack cocaine addiction, said she is present at the Skid Row location every week and usually receives a dollar or two from Chase. She claims to use the money to buy cigarettes or do her laundry.
"He's got a heart," said the 56-year-old woman who sleeps on the sidewalk when she can't find a shelter bed. "I never saw anyone like him. Some people are generous, but this guy ... I can't even describe it."
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