SLEEP OUT 2023

It is truly impossible to walk the streets of downtown Vancouver without noticing the alarming number of our brothers and sisters living in physical and spiritual poverty. There are so many of God's beloved children living on the fringes of society with no one to support them or show them the dignity and love that they so desperately need.

So how can we help to make a change?

We often think that by being on our feet we can accomplish a lot. But in one night, being still can do SO much more.

The annual CSM SLEEP OUT invites parish and non-parish members to become a part of a movement that can make a change. But it involves a battle against the night, which some are forced to fight.

By giving up one night, you can help make change for our brothers and sisters on the streets.

And this year, we want 100 people to be a part of this movement of change.

Because change CAN happen overnight.

Catholic Street Missionaries invites you to join us in a movement of change by making a bold and courageous decision to join us in SLEEP OUT. You will be making a true sacrifice by experiencing what it's like to be homeless and spend one night outside in the cold. The reality is there are many people who do sleep on the street and experience the discomfort that we often forget about.

Participants will be given a link to their own personalized page where they can ask their community to make a donation in supporting them to sleep outside for the night. The money raised will go directly to Catholic Street Missionaries and be used to bring resources to our homeless brothers and sisters in the streets of downtown Vancouver.

Change starts with us. Are you up for the challenge?

Everyone needs a star. Be one of our 100.

This year, Archbishop Miller will celebrate early morning Mass on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation. He joined us in sleep out in 2015 and here is what he had to say about his experience:

"an eye opener and a little bit of a back sore. In my heart it has made me appreciate a little bit more what many people go through on a daily basis. When we drive through the downtown east side we might forget where do all these people sleep, and many of them do sleep outside on the pavement. We can perhaps become used to that or even think 'well some people just sleep that way' without paying attention to the real physical discomfort, the cold, the alienation... It's a reminder of how harsh life is for some of our brothers and sisters and there's nothing like a short experience to get a taste of what it's like."

Tentative Schedule:

Friday March 24th

6:00 pm Registration

6:30 pm Station of the Cross

7:00 pm Mass

7:40 pm Adoration with Praise and Worship music, confession,

9:00 pm Benediction

9:15 pm Participant Orientation

9:35 pm Group Sharing

10:15 pm Night Prayer

10:30pm Set up sleeping

11:00 pm Grand Silence

Saturday March 24th

5:00am - hot chocolate and coffee

5:30/6am Wake up, pack up and get ready for Mass

6:30 am Mass with Archbishop Miller

7:15am Breakfast and sharing

8:30/9am Finish