Sermons

Mark’s Story - National Housing Day
November 21/2004
Luke 23:33-43

The Biblical Mark, John Mark was a friend of Barnabbas and Paul and traveler around the Mediterranean. His Gospel was thought to be written in Italy by one of the founders of the Christian Church. It’s writing is rough, a colloquial rather than polished Greek, by someone most likely without a great deal of formal education. It is the simplest of the Gospels without expanded details and, most scholars believe, linked most closely with the oral tradition known as ‘Q’. All alter Gospels are said to be based on Mark.

Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize saints in our midst, Luke’s Gospel deals with those who do or do not recognize the Christ. At Emmanuel Howard Park from time to time we attempt to recognize those in our midst whose stories we do not know. This is one of them.

My name is Mark Piche, actually Mark Anthony Piche. I grew up in Winnipeg with my mother and sometimes half brothers and sisters. My dad abused my mother who had mental health issues of her own and he soon moved away. I know that he was French but I also know that I have some European ancestry, perhaps Italian just like the Marc Anthony I was named after.

My mother never cared for me and I moved in with my sister and nieces and nephews when I was a teenager. My school experience was not good. I remember the other kids calling me ‘Paki’ because of my dark colouring. I didn’t finish school.

It didn’t take me long to figure out that my sister just needed me as a babysitter for her children, who she was always leaving with me so that I, at 18, practically raised them. I left there as well and began hitchhiking around the country. I have never heard from my mother and father and don’t want to hear from them again. It was always just painful anyway.

I worked a lot of odd jobs, McDonald’s, shoveling snow, anything I could do to get by. I have never in my life had any problems with drugs or alcohol. I have never in my life seen a psychiatrist or psychologist and rarely used the medical system. I have never been on welfare and don’t want to be on welfare. I know I can work and I like to work.

In the year 2000, I arrived in Toronto and for the five years that I have been here I have been homeless. In winter I stay in shelters in the Out of the Cold program. The rest of the year I sleep outside of City Hall because the Police told me that is the one place that they will not bother me. I heard about Emmanuel Howard Park’s drop in and dinner program, the West End Angel program, from someone who lent money to me for coffee. It is the only drop in open on Sunday in the entire city.
When I began to come here and to come to the service I also began to sing in the evening Angel Choir and then learned of the morning Chancel and Gospel Choirs and now I sing in them. I can’t sing in the evening anymore because I need to be at the shelter by early evening to secure a bed. Every Sunday I walked here from City Hall to sing in the morning choir. It would take me about an hour and a half, now it takes about an hour.

I love music and want to become a musician some day. In high school I learned to read music and played the tenor sax. It is my dream to record a CD and I would love to move to the States where the climate is better.

I am now 35 years old and proud to be a part of the music and a part of the Church at Emmanuel Howard Park . That is all that I want to say.
Cheri wanted me to share my story because she said it would help to show everyone how blessed they are and would give you hope. I hope it has.