Sunrise Memorial Service remembers our homeless

The 22nd Annual National Homeless Persons’ Sunrise Memorial Service was held under the pergola at the Sherrill Veterans Memorial Park on Dec. 16. The service honored those who died while experiencing homelessness this year.

Kyle Knutson, President of Homeless Issues Partnership (HIP), organized the event and welcomed everyone in attendance. Corps Mission Associate with the Salvation Army, Jesse Long, led the event with prayer.

Those in attendance included Jaime Reyna, Director of Social Ministry for the Diocese of Corpus Christi and staff from Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi’s Business Manager, Betty Berry, Mother Teresa Shelter Operations Supervisor Sister, Sister Rency Moonjely, with the congregation of Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Sister Sibi Varghese, SABS. 

While each name of the deceased was called out, attendees placed a flower in the center of the pagola.

At the ceremony’s closing, Knutson led a procession from the park to the bayfront, where attendees picked up a flower to place in the bay while Michael J. Eggenberger played solemn music on his bagpipe.

The public is welcome to attend the annual memorial service held each December.