THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 48, NO. 3 | AUGUST 7, 2026
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Friar Benedict, PJC, lathers Steven, a homeless man living on the streets of Kansas City, for a shave on a hot July day after cutting his hair. The friars of the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ offer a mobile shower ministry to those experiencing homelessness each Saturday from May to October that includes haircuts, shaves, manicures, food, water and clean clothes.
STREET CLEANING
Poor of Jesus Christ use showers to restore dignity to the homeless By Kathryn White Special to The Leaven
How to get involved
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — One grill, 50 hot dogs, 80 sandwiches, several gallons of lemonade and many packs of clothing, toiletries and hygiene kits surround the area. Music is playing on a loud-speaker in the summer heat. A woman lifts her hands and sings in praise. A man dozes in a chair in the midst of the noise. It may sound like the friars of the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ are on a camping trip. Really, it’s business as usual. Their business: mobile shower ministry. Each Saturday from May to October, the friars and a group of volunteers fill the tank of the fraternity’s generator-powered shower trailer with 300 gallons of water, pack their supplies and meet the homeless on the streets. They fire up the grill and, soon enough, people come. An estimated 4,000 people are living on the streets in the Kansas City metro area. Reasons range from lack of affordable housing and struggles with
The Friars of the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ are always in need of donations, especially new or gently used men’s sneakers and men’s and women’s seasonal clothing. Those interested in donating or volunteering with the community can contact Friar Augustine at: miguelpro@ocaminho.org.
Showers of grace
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Chris exits the mobile shower trailer of the friars Poor of Jesus Christ after a warm shower. An estimated 4,000 people live on the streets in the Kansas City metro area. mental health to poverty and domestic violence. The friars, however, don’t question the why. They just serve. Their motto is “Iesus Totus, Totus Iesus,” which means “Jesus our all, all
for Jesus.” “We call those we serve predilect sons and daughters,” said Friar Augustine, PJC. “They are favored ones. Jesus favors the poor. By serving the poor, we serve Jesus.”
In 2023, the community underwent a restructuring. The friars and the Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ began discerning how they would independently live out their mission to serve the poor. The Sisters decided to focus on street ministry. The friars knew they would continue to feed the homeless year-round, but they made a decision to do more when a homeless man told them something unexpected. He had a job interview but no where >> See “I FEEL” on page 6