‘Ministering to the Homeless’ workshop to be held on April 18
By Elizabeth Landry
Staff writer
For 30 years, Deacon Jeff Dixe worked as an educator in the Central New York suburbs. While he certainly encountered students who were in challenging situations, it wasn’t until he began working for the Diocese of Syracuse in 2024 that he was confronted head-on with the reality of the homelessness crisis in the community.
“The face of homelessness and addiction and mental illness is literally right there every time we walk out the doors of our office,” said Dc. Dixe, director of the Offices of Adult and Ministerial Formation. “It really hit me after my first few weeks of working downtown, just what a chronic problem it is… and the fact that those numbers are only growing exponentially of people who are being impacted by homelessness for a multitude of reasons.”
Seeing firsthand the severity of homelessness in downtown Syracuse, Dc. Dixe said the Spirit was moving him to learn more about the causes of homelessness, which ultimately led to planning the “Ministering to the Homeless” workshop that will be held on Saturday, April 18, at Holy Family Church in Syracuse.
“I had a lot to learn about folks who face homelessness… the circumstances that led them to where they’re at,” Dc. Dixe said. “There’re these circumstances that people get hit with that just have such an incredibly negative impact, whether it’s drug addiction, mental illness, trauma. … I had a lot more to learn about this, and I’d like to share this with others, as well.”
The workshop is open to all faithful in the diocese who wish to understand more about homelessness in our communities. Three speakers will share information and perspectives about the issue, each from a slightly different angle and area of expertise. Mary Radford, director of social work at Road to Emmaus Ministry, will explain the science behind trauma, addiction, and mental illness, helping attendees gain understanding of how these circumstances can lead to homelessness. The second speaker, Deacon John Falge, is retired from the Syracuse Police Department, where he served as chief of police. Dc. Falge has 30 years of experience working as a police officer, and he will speak about the realities that homeless people face, while also helping attendees learn how to feel safe and comfortable when ministering to people on the streets.
“I truly believe that most people have a really good heart and want to do something good to support folks who are in a tough way, but one of the things that may be holding them back is a lack of awareness of how to feel safe, because the minister has a right to feel safe in an encounter,” said Dc. Dixe. “There’s nothing wrong with that at all.”
The last speaker will be Father John Manno, pastor of Holy Family, Syracuse and St. Marianne Cope, Lakeland and Solvay, and a driving force behind the creation of Emmaus ministries.
“The reason I asked Fr. Manno to present is because I would really like to have his perspective shared with all of us about, how do we form a minister’s heart when it comes to this? How do we put aside our own prejudices and our own conclusions and really look at folks the best we can with the eyes of Christ?” said Dc. Dixe.
After each speaker presents, lunch will be served, and there will be time for Q&A. Dc. Dixe said he hopes attendees will come away from the workshop with a refined perspective on the various circumstances involved in homelessness, as well as a sense of empowerment to feel safe when ministering to homeless people, including an understanding of our own individual limitations.
“This is not only about understanding those who are facing difficult circumstances that we wish to minister to, but as a minister, you also have to understand yourself,” said Dc. Dixe. “You’ve got to understand what’s going on in your own head, in your own heart, when it comes to your prejudices and your preconceived notions and conclusions. … Learning is not only [from] without, but it’s also within.”
“Ministering to the Homeless” is free-of-charge (although donations are welcomed) and open to everyone. It will be held at Holy Family Church, 127 Chapel Drive in Syracuse, on Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch and refreshments will be served. Contact Dc. Jeff Dixe at [email protected] with questions or to register. Registration is requested by April 15 and is also available by using the QR code above.
