On Tuesday, October 29, 2013 Br.
Charles celebrated his 88th birthday. Celebrations began on Monday at Lantern Light; folks had him pegged at 87, 88 or 89!
He wasn’t telling. Birthday cakes
were offered up, and a box of chocolate was given. On the day itself, the community went to La Petite Grocery, a wonderful French restaurant around the
corner from our house. We never had gone
there thinking it was too expensive, but had not checked the prices. It turned out to be about the same as most
fine restaurants and, hey, Charles was 88.
The room is beautiful, the service excellent and the food beautifully
prepared. Charles and Travis had the “osso
bucco” and pronounced it superb, John relished the shrimp and grits and Bob had
his first serving of rabbit! Erika and
Lauren ordered hamburgers, one with no bun, no nuthin’, and each put in a side
order but did not eat a ‘mac and cheese’ and a salad. As a group, we do better eating at home so
various dietary needs and food preference [texture is very important to one
member] can be accommodated—or one can make a piece of toast, and make
something to eat later. “Travy’s”
grilled burgers and sausage are very popular with the distaff side and the yard
cat, which folks happily abandon the dishes to feed with any leftovers from the grill.
Each year, food preferences
vary. Our drink of choice this year
seems to be pink lemonade, and if John buys it, the root beer is guzzled pretty
quickly. We drink gallons of milk and
green tea ice tea goes down well.
Years ago, we used to have the
goblets disappear from the kitchen and end up on the third floor. This year it is teaspoons—they somehow end up
on the third floor although no one would think of eating up there and drawing
creepy, crawly critters.
On October 30th we had
a community hour of reflection conducted by the volunteers. The Brothers reflected on a prayer for
volunteers, while the volunteers reflected on a poem called “Dream Chasers” about
the role of the Brothers as they see it.
This was followed by a conversation about what we read and reflected on.
Lauren recently received a lovely
recognition from her fellow teachers at Langston Hughes—who are referred to as “Dream
Keepers” as an exemplary “dream keeper.”
Erika continues to enliven the
ministry at Lantern Light.
John began his coaching visits to
schools as part of the Discovery Walks program of the School Leadership Center
at the University of New Orleans. On the
31st he was at John Paul II High School in Slidell for a 7:45 AM
meeting with administration, and was at Holy Cross near the lakefront for a
9:45 meeting.
Travis Wain’s ministry for the homeless was mentioned in the
Fall newsletter of the Harry Thomson Center.
The Harry Thomson Center provides the services through Travis. “The VA
CRRC Partnership - On October 7, the HTC began providing laundry and
shower services at the newly opened Veterans Administration Community Resource
and Referral Center (CRRC) located in downtown New Orleans in a renovated wing
of the old VA hospital. The City, through its Emergency Solutions Grant
Program, is providing funding to HTC to provide services at the CRRC. In
the photo are Rickey Paul, Chanitra Casmier, who serve as Center Assistants,
and Travis Wain, our Site Coordinator who is an Americorp Volunteer with the
Christian Brothers Volunteer Program. Not pictured are other Center
Assistants Trolean Tolliver and Khristian Hamilton. Welcome to all of
you!
Bob left for a conference
sponsored by the Catholic Volunteer Network on Sunday.
John helped facilitate a gathering of
religious concerned about violence in New Orleans on Monday evening. The ‘Burning Bush Initiative” shares
information about programs that seek to heal and help end the cycle of death
resulting from racism, poverty and lack of education. It has introduced folks to mentoring,
bereavement and public witness initiatives that religious may consider
joining.
Charles leaves for the Brothers
community leaders’ workshop in Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday.
Reflection:
The Dream Keeper
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamer,
Bring me all your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
You dreamer,
Bring me all your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
Langston Hughes
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