Soup-er Heroes: My experience at the Franciscan Friars Soup Kitchen
Carmen Maria Gomez Puentes • April 3, 2025
As cliché as it might sound, volunteering at a soup kitchen can be a life changing experience and not only for those you are serving, but also for yourself as well.
Around a year ago, I began to volunteer at a soup kitchen in Bradford run by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (a religious community called to live amongst, listen to, care for, and support materially and emotionally, the poor and destitute with whom they choose to share their lives with). I didn’t really want to go, but my best friend has always had a strong passion for serving the homeless, so when I heard about this opportunity, I knew she would love it. For the first three months we would go together. I was convinced I was going because of her. I didn’t realise until she graduated and moved back to her hometown, was that I kept going back even without her because I LOVED IT. Something had changed within me.
The atmosphere wasn’t distant. It wasn’t transactional. There was a sense of family and the guests were welcomed in with open arms. Every time I’d put on my apron and started preparing the meal and the space for our guests to come, it wasn’t just about feeding hungry people - it was about offering them a sense of dignity and community, and for them to know that they are worthy, whatever their state of life.
Many times I’ve heard or read the passage in the bible that says “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40) but it wasn’t until I started to volunteer at the soup kitchen that serving food wasn’t just a practical need being met, it was a way to treat each guest with the same love and respect that Christ would show. It was meeting that basic human need for connection. We’re made for community, and we were offering it here at the soup kitchen. Most weeks, the meal itself is quite simple. However, you can really see how much the guests appreciate the effort, and are grateful for the simple things like a warm plate of soup, and a chance to chat. Realistically, homelessness often comes with a stigma that reduces individuals to stereotypes and a statistic. However when I took the time to sit with them and simply listened to what they had and wanted to share, I was so humbled. These are real people with real stories and real purpose in the world, and I enjoyed spending time in their company.
If you’re considering volunteering, make sure to sign up to the chaplaincy mailing list. Volunteering can help you appreciate the little things in life even more.
I’m ashamed to admit how many times I’ve overlooked the complexities of homelessness in my daily life because it was easier or more comfortable. However, it was in the simple act of sharing a meal with someone, that I saw the Gospel come alive. I’ve learnt so much from the guests that come to the soup kitchen, and I can see how the call to love and serve others isn’t just a nice idea; it’s something we’re meant to live every day. The words of St. Teresa of Calcutta kept coming to mind: “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” It’s a reminder that no act of kindness is too small, and every gesture of love matters.
Carmen is a level 6 Primary Education Student at Leeds Trinity University.
Share
As a university student, life often feels like a whirlwind of deadlines, assignments, and endless to-do lists. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when the weight of everything starts to build up. But amongst all the chaos, I’ve found a place of peace and comfort that has truly made a difference in my life . Into the Light, a prayer and social evening with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal (a group of American Sisters who live in Leeds). Once a month, students and young adults are invited to gather in the chapel for a time of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration. Eucharistic Adoration is an ancient form of prayer. The same Jesus that is present at Communion is exposed on the altar. The evening begins in complete stillness, offering a perfect escape from the noise of everyday life. As we enter the chapel, the atmosphere sets the tone for what feels like a spiritual reset. For an hour or so, we simply sit in the presence of God, allowing our hearts and minds to quiet down. The silence is almost tangible, and it’s easy to forget about deadlines and stress as you just focus on the moment and be present with Jesus. But it’s not all just prayer. The evening is also about community. One of my favourite parts of Into the Light is the chance to connect with the Franciscan Sisters themselves. They’re warm, welcoming, and full of joy. You can tell they truly live out their faith, and their presence is uplifting. The Franciscan Sisters encourage a welcoming, inclusive environment where people of all backgrounds can feel at home, whether they’ve been attending for years or are coming for the first time. It’s also a great opportunity to meet new friends and people who are looking for the same sense of peace and connection. After our time of prayer and reflection, we enjoy pizza together. It’s the perfect way to unwind, chat with friends, and just enjoy the simple pleasure of good company and food. What I love most about Into the Light is that it’s a safe space to disconnect from the world for a while and reconnect with God. The peace I experience there is so different from the usual hustle and bustle of daily life. For someone like me, juggling university life and the stress that comes with that, it is much-needed time to rest. So, if you’re looking for a time to breathe, find peace, and deepen your connection with God, I highly recommend giving Into the Light a try. Whether you're someone who’s been to a prayer event before or someone who’s never experienced anything like this, you’re sure to find a moment of rest for your soul. Trust me, you won’t regret it, and you’ll get some delicious pizza afterwards too! Lucy Ramshaw is a student in Law at Leeds Trinity University.
Before coming to university in 2019, I really fell out with my faith – I regularly went to Church (mostly because my mum made me), but also because I eventually began playing my guitar in Church. Then in 2014, my brother died very suddenly. It was such a difficult time and whilst I kept being involved with chaplaincy at school, my brother’s sudden death had really shaken my faith in God and I really struggled to have faith in him. In 2019 I started my university life here at Leeds Trinity University doing a degree in photography. In February 2020, I heard about Youth 2000 when the Lay Chaplain at the time asked if I wanted to help out. I was in a bit of a tricky situation as my 21st birthday fell on that weekend, and I thought I’d much rather go out with my friends to celebrate. I said yes to helping on the first night, and I am so glad I did! During that night, I saw how welcoming everyone was and how you could really feel God’s presence. I was overwhelmed by how much love was poured out with every song sung, in every conversation, and in the moments of stillness. I tried to be open and take part in ways where I felt comfortable (this was a little bit new to me), leading me to take part in Adoration during the night with my friend. Youth 2000 kept the Blessed Sacrament out throughout the whole weekend, and there always has to be someone with it, so I signed up for a late night slot. As I kept looking at the burning bush (a structure with candles on which is usually in the centre of the main space where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on top), I kept hearing “ it is you that I have been waiting to find ”, which I found out later was from Shine by Years & Years . It was so strong and clear in my mind, and I knew that it was God reaching out to me. I had been struggling for so long with my faith and with who I was, that this really hit me. I wish I had been able to stay longer that weekend, but luckily, since then, I have been able to get involved several times with Youth 2000 . I have been able to use my gift of photography to document the virtual 2021 retreat, and the Ampleforth retreats which run during the summer, and I have been able to attend retreats in between. I have also managed to find a church I love, and found ways that I can worship easily now that I am in full-time employment post-graduation. I have never felt such a strong sense of community and belonging like I do at Youth 2000 events, and I think that the retreats can have such a huge impact on you regardless of where you are in life or your faith journey. I would encourage anyone to go. You have the opportunity to make lifelong friendships, experience God’s love, and be part of something beautiful. Youth 2000 is coming back to Leeds Trinity University for a one day retreat on Saturday 15 February , and you are invited. Want to know more? Check out their new video here. Becca Mills graduated with a BA in Photography from Leeds Trinity University in July 2022.
I graduated from Leeds Trinity in 2014 with a BA in Theology. It was during my time at University that I was introduced to the Catholic faith by some friends and the staff in the Chaplaincy. I was brought up in an evangelical Anglican family, and faith and church were very much a big part of my life. It was while I was at 6th form, in my native Hull, that I first thought about dedicating my life to service of God and His people. However, being an Anglican I naturally thought that this would be within the Church of England. After speaking to my local Vicar, he suggested that I do a degree first and continue to discern during this period of study. I chose Leeds Trinity for two main reasons. Firstly, I liked the fact that it was a Catholic University. While I didn’t really know much about Catholicism at the time, I was just glad to see a university that took its Christian faith seriously, and this was reflected in the prominence of the Chaplaincy. The second reason was due to its size. I valued that it was a small university and that you could really get to know people rather than just being a number in a crowd. During my time at Leeds Trinity, I spent a considerable amount of time in the Chaplaincy. It was my go-to place before, between and after lectures. I found a community here that helped me grow in my faith and deepen my friendships – it was here that I met some of my dearest friends. It was also here that I was introduced to the Catholic faith. At first, I was very sceptical. Catholicism was completely new to me, and I didn't know what to think. I mainly attended out of curiosity. However, the more I explored, the more I felt drawn to it. My studies helped too. The more I learned about the early Church and modern teachings, the more I realized that the Catholic Church had deep roots. This was a significant revelation for me, and it took some time to process. It was only in the final few months of my time at university that I began the formal process to join the Church. This happened at St Mary’s Church in Horsforth during the Easter Vigil in 2015, and I was welcomed into the Church by Fr Marc Homsey, the current priest Chaplain at Leeds Trinity. After graduating, I stayed in the Horsforth area and got a job working for NPower, during which time I was getting used to being a Catholic. However, the nudge to serve within the Church never went away and I wondered if I was being called to be a Catholic priest. Through prayer and conversations I began my discernment to the priesthood.. This took me to a number of different places – the journey to priesthood hasn’t been a linear one. I began my journey as a Dominican Friar, and I was with them for 2 years before discerning out and joining Leeds Diocese. I spent the remainder of my seminary years at the Venerable English College in Rome. I was ordained a Priest on Saturday 28th January 2023, the feast of St Thomas Aquinas (who is the patron saint of students!). I’m glad to say that there were number of Leeds Trinity Students, both past and present, there to celebrate and support me. A fun fact – I am currently the assistant priest in the Parish of Our Lady of Kirkstall, in which St Mary’s Church is in, so it is wonderful to be back there serving the community who welcomed me. Attending Leeds Trinity changed my life completely, and I can say with confidence that I haven’t regretted it one bit. Leeds Trinity will always hold a special place in my heart as the place where I began my journey to the Priesthood, but more importantly, into the Catholic Church, a journey that may have had its ups and downs but has been, and continues to be, one of great joy and discovery. Fr Marc is an Alumnus of Leeds Trinity University and Assistant Priest of The Parish of Our Lady of Kirkstall
As a teenager, I was always the go to friend. The one who people told their problems to and shared things that started with, ‘I’ve never told anyone this before …’ I didn’t know why or how I’d become that person, but somehow I had. I didn’t know, but God did! People often ask me how I came to be a Lay Chaplain and I think it started as far back as then, a teenager growing up in Blackpool trying to work out who she was and what her purpose was. It was far from straightforward – I definitely made a few wrong decisions in my youth, believe me! I was really blessed to have the accompaniment of those further on the journey and growing in my faith help to guide me along the way. I always knew I wanted to work with people and still now love hearing about people’s lives and the journey they’ve been on. I’m fascinated by their experiences, and I love to listen. Accompanying people and coming alongside them in what they are going through is such a privilege, and one I don’t take for granted. I left University unsure of what career path I wanted to take and soon found myself on a Postgrad in Youth & Community Work alongside a gap year working as a Youth Worker for a Church in Blackpool. Soon after came marriage, children, and a move to Leeds, interspersed with a Children’s Ministry job, and then a job as the New Wine Worship Ministry Manager, which included organising worship teams for large conferences. No matter the role, I always found myself accompanying people. I didn’t intend to have the deep and meaningful conversations with people, but more often than not, I found myself in them! It took me a while to recognise that this was something God had laid on my heart – to be available for people, to really listen and show them that they have value and a purpose, and are loved unconditionally by God. This is what led me to become a Lay Chaplain. I am motivated by my faith and a desire to love and serve as Jesus does. When this job at Leeds Trinity University came up, we had just moved back to Leeds for a second time, so the timing (or God’s timing) was perfect! It’s so easy in a job to get consumed by the little things – the logistics and paperwork – and whilst that is part of the role of a Lay Chaplain (and an important one), what’s more important are the people in front of us. From running our monthly prayer evenings, (‘Into the Light’ with the Franciscan Sisters) to Homeless Runs and Staff Prayer Breakfasts, Tea on the Landing to one to one’s with those who need to talk, no two days are ever the same, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Cat Sayburn is the Lay Chaplain at Leeds Trinity University
During October, I took the opportunity to take part in the homeless run through the Chaplaincy. It was also the first time the Chaplaincy had ran it out of the the City Centre Campus, which worked really well.
I begin my work long before I get to my desk.
The walk from the car park to my office takes me through busy campus corridors where people are either rushing to their next meeting or killing time in between them. I once heard an experienced Chaplain talk about the importance of walking slowly on campus.
A few months ago, I was approached by Jonny Wilson, a member of the Estates and Facilities team at Leeds Trinity University, who asked if The Chaplaincy would support a charity football match to raise funds and awareness for Andy’s Man Club — a charitable organisation set up to support men’s mental health. Of course, The Chaplaincy jumped at the chance. Andy’s Man Club is an amazing initiative which started here in Yorkshire and now reaches people across the country. The club has created a safe, non-judgemental space for men to gather and express the struggles and trials they may be facing. We were only too happy to help organise the match, which took place during Mental Health Awareness Week (Monday 13 and Sunday 19 May). This year’s theme of ‘moving for your mental health’ made it particularly fitting to play a football match given the health benefits of physical activity such as decreased feelings of anxiety, increased cardiovascular health and overall fitness. It was heartwarming to see colleagues from across the University work together to put plans in place. Charles Isherwood from Student Recruitment is a qualified referee and offered to officiate for us, Aramark (a catering company) provided water, tea and coffee, the Porters were on the sideline as first aiders, our Trinity Sport team provided the bibs and footballs, and we had colleagues from a wide range of departments willing to pull on their boots to take on a student team. It’s this collective and collaborative effort that makes the Leeds Trinity community amazing and quite remarkable. We’re a small university, but we have a big heart. Everyone was aware that the match was for charity, making for a pleasant atmosphere in a game featuring players with a mix of abilities. Charles even let the staff team have 12 players, but it was to no avail as the students ran out comfortable 7-2 winners. In the staff team’s defence, they suffered two injuries within the first ten minutes, and in most cases were around 15-20 years older than the students on average. That’s got to count for something! Following the match, the players and the spectators gathered on the pitch for a minute’s silence to remember why we were playing, and for all those who have used or are using Andy’s Man Club as they battle to overcome their mental health challenges. Football is a team sport, and players depend on relationships with teammates to achieve success or come through difficult times. This mirrors the ethos in support groups, where you look to your peers for guidance and support regarding personal challenges. As well as raising awareness of Andy’s Man Club, our goal with this game was to get people talking and create new bonds, so I am absolutely delighted to hear that colleagues and students who were practically strangers beforehand have since stopped to chat in the canteen at our Main Campus in Horsforth. I really hope that the huge amount of support this fundraising effort received helps play a part in breaking the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues. Seeing people come together for this great cause proves that people care and will hopefully inspire others to seek the support they need. Indeed, if you’re a man struggling with mental health issues, Andy’s Man Club could be for you. Danielle Roman is Chaplaincy Administrator at Leeds Trinity University.
