{"id":7022,"date":"2022-05-19T09:42:04","date_gmt":"2022-05-19T13:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diocesemontreal.wp.vortexdev.com\/en\/news\/news-2\/rue-street-wherever-you-are-its-good-youre-alive\/"},"modified":"2022-05-19T09:42:04","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T13:42:04","slug":"rue-street-wherever-you-are-its-good-youre-alive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diocesemontreal.wp.vortexdev.com\/en\/news\/news-2\/rue-street-wherever-you-are-its-good-youre-alive\/","title":{"rendered":"Dans la rue: In the street or wherever you are, \u201cIt\u2019s good that you\u2019re alive.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The outreach organization Dans la rue proudly unveiled their new renewable natural gas-fuelled van on Wednesday, May 18 at Place Emmett-Johns: see here<\/a>. An inaugurational event was mounted to introduce the new van and the other services offered by the organization: see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Archbishop L\u00e9pine was guest speaker at the event. The founder of Dans la rue<\/em>, Fr. Emmett Johns (1928-2018), known affectionately as \u2018Pops,\u2019 was a priest in the diocese of Montreal. Thirty-four years ago, at the age of 60, Pops began devoting his energies – and a van purchased on credit – to the service of young people. And thus was born the presence of the \u201cBon Dieu<\/em>\u201d in the streets. The most recently inaugurated van is the sixth since the early days when this same priest, who is commemorated with his picture along one side of the van, first began his work of outreach among the young people living in the streets of Montreal. And today the organization he founded still keeps that \u201cBon Dieu<\/em>\u201d in its business name.<\/p>\n\n

Master of ceremonies Jean-Marie Lapointe gave a tribute to Pops\u2019s humility, his simplicity and generosity. During his meetings in connection with the program \u201cFace \u00e0 la rue<\/em>\u201d (\u2018Facing the street\u2019), Mr. Lapointe remembered many of the testimonials that came up. One of Pops\u2019s questions that had stood out for many of those who remember him was, \u201cDo you love yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\u201cHe was a man of courage, a man of action,\u201d added Mrs. Josefina Blanco of the Ville de Montr\u00e9al, who also mentioned the emphasis that the City places on the issue of the street people and its support for the organizations dedicated to assisting them.<\/p>\n\n

Archbishop L\u00e9pine commended the genius and the simplicity that Pops had displayed with his heartfelt gesture that captured the attention of so many. The Archbishop also reminded those gathered how Pops would say to people with the conviction of his whole being, \u201cIt\u2019s good that you\u2019re alive;\u201d no matter what, it\u2019s good that you\u2019re alive.<\/p>\n\n

This is a mentality and these are words that change lives:<\/p>\n\n