SPOTLIGHT ON LANTERN LIGHT

In an article titled HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS, Sheila Stroup highlights the work of the Presentation Sisters at Lantern Light Ministries where Br. Charles works every morning sorting and handing out mail to the many homeless who have no other home address.  Lantern Light is one of two programs which provide many different services; the article is a worthwhile read and very true to our experience these last five years.  There is a great picture of Sr. Vera Butler, PBVM with a local chef, Matt Murphy, who met Sr. Vera at his restaurant, The Irish House.  Matt Murphy has promised to help with an upcoming fundraiser; did we mention Sr. Vera and Matt are both Irish-born. 

http://www.nola.com/dining/index.ssf/2012/10/matt_murphy_and_other_chopped.html#incart_flyout_living

Br. Bob has completed setting up a workshop on the first floor, and is now repairing an outside door that was wrenched off its hinges during hurricane Isaac.  Renovations to the “Map Room” are on hold.

On Columbus Day, Travis Wain came back from a family wedding in the Albany, NY area; John Petrullo returned from a visit to his folks in Staten Island.  While John had alerted his father, he surprised his mother.  Tears [of joy we presume] ensued.  Matt Beben was in charge of the 3^rd floor for the weekend.

John was in Henderson, Nevada for the week participating in a School Leaders Retreat for 18 school presidents and principals.  The retreat was titled: “At the Service of the Happenings of Grace,” based on a talk given by Fr. Timothy Radcliffe in 2004 in London Colney, England to province leadership teams from the US, UK, Eire, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In John’s work with secondary schools aiming to better serve students, [Discovery Walks], the primary attention is on how students are educated.  Students are now much less likely to be treated as sponges, or lectured in a one-size fits all mode.  Individual and small group approaches are made easier by technology, and have always been the goal of good teachers.  Students retain more when they do the work moderated by an alert and well educated teacher serving as mentor to them.  Reynolds Price in ARDENT SPIRITS, [Scribner, 2009] a wonderful reflection on his years at Oxford and first years at Duke University, wrote about one of his teachers: “But he had the born teacher’s gift for identifying ability and authentic passion in a student and for zeroing in on those incipient qualities to produce ultimate results.” p. 157

BLOG 10.14.12

AUTUMN ARRIVES IN NOLA

Friday evening, at 'Ignatius':  John, Tavis and Matt at one end of the table!

 We have had 65 degree temperatures at night in New Orleans—we call that “chilly.”  The days recently have been dry and sunny and the tourists are out and about!

On September 18^th, Sr. Monica Gundler, SC came to facilitate our community meeting; she will accompany us on four occasions during the year, though we meet every other week.

On September 20, Br. John attended the 50^th anniversary celebrations at Tampa Catholic High School and carried greetings from the Province Leadership Team to the students and faculty.  A number of administrators and faculty from John’s time there [1984-87] attended the Mass and reception.  Tampa Catholic has adopted Blessed Edmund Rice as their official school patron and is revitalizing the service program as part of their anniversary celebrations.

Br. Kevin Bernard spent the week of September 23^rd with us; he and John went to the same elementary school and joined the Brothers together in 1964.  Kevin is taking up new responsibilities in Cochabamba, Bolivia working with recovering addicts as well as responsibilities on the Latin American Regions’ Leadership Team.

Friday evening at 'Ignatius':  Charles, Bob, Br. Kevin Bernard and John at the other end of the table

On October 1, we had another community meeting to catch up and plan our calendars. 

Matt Beben, working with United Saints, has done a lot of clearing of empty lots which harbor unwelcome rodent populations and sometimes criminal behaviors.  Travis Wain, with Helping Hands, has been gutting homes and doing some rehabilitation work.  Travis and Matt have volunteered on several Saturdays to work in LaPlace and Braithwaite cleaning up after Hurricane Isaac.  John Petrullo is working on development projects for Café Reconcile which is undergoing extensive renovations which may be finished by December.

Bob continues at St. Joe’s on Tulane in the parish office, and also helping wind down Operation Helping Hands.  He and the three volunteers also have made great progress in the rehabilitation of the first floor of the Blessed Pauline Center.  Charles spends the mornings each week at Lantern Light. John continues to work with Catholic high schools through the Discovery Walk program.

The week of October 1 brought the terribly sad news of the death of Br. Robert Bellarmine Durning who Br. John knew well, as did John Petrullo and Travis Wain when they studied at Iona College.  Due to previous travel plans, Travis and John Petrullo both got to the wake for Br. Durning.  A day later came word of the death of Br. Paul Crowley after a long illness.  He was in Br. John’s ‘group’, having joined the same year.

On Saturday, October 6, Anthony and Colleen LaRocca dropped off three gently used bikes donated by folks down here for the volunteers use.  Generous donors also gave $150 for refurbishment of the bicycles.

On Sunday, October 7, Br. John left for Henderson, Nevada to participate in the School Leaders Retreat for Edmund Rice Christian Brothers schools in North America.                                        

HURRICANE ISAAC'S AFTERMATH: Helping Each Other

From the Monday, September 17th issue of our local paper, The Times Picaayune.  "Faith-based ministries and local nonprofits still ramping up relief efforts after Hurricane Isaac say it's already clear that this recovery will proceed without the national outpouring of money and volunteers triggered by the power of Hurricane Katrina, meaning it will fall more heavily on the good will of New Orleanians helping each other. "From our point of view, the biggest challenge with this disaster will be getting attention and money," said Gordon Wadge, president of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New Orleans."

http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2012/09/hurricane_isaac_not_producing.html

The above referenced article by Bruce Nolan noted that $107 million dollars flowed into the Archdiocese of New Orleans and Catholic Charities after Katrina.  Post-Isaac both dollars and volunteers are vastly diminished.  Our volunteers are now in the midst of poorly funded operations, lessening support for volunteer groups like Americorps or Café Reconcile, and governmental agencies now assuming ‘faith-based’ agencies are to pick up the slack!  Just in these first two weeks, two of our volunteers are working Saturdays as well as during the week to alleviate needs.  Fortunately, large numbers of Mormon volunteers are coming, bringing all their supplies, including camping equipment, to help gut houses.  There is certainly no shortage of need in the city.

Last  week we started our “routines.”  The volunteers finished with orientations, and began 'regular' work weeks.  On Monday evening we had a community meeting, did a ‘check in,’ and set a time for Morning Prayer and meals.

Charles works mornings each week at Lantern Light Ministry taking care of mail for the homeless who use the center as their address.  He also prepares dinner for the community on Sunday and Monday and shops for staples like milk and bread and fruit.

Bob works Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the business office of St. Joseph’s Parish on Tulane Avenue and is continuing to wind down operations at Operation Helping Hands.  Tuesday and Thursday he works from home on the volunteer program and, for now, Hurricane Isaac clean-up. Bob takes care of dinner on Tuesday and Friday.   [It is today reported in the Times Picayune that Catholic Charities is thinking of restarting Operation Helping Hands!  One wonders.]

John works from home unless he is in a school with the Discovery Walk program or on the road. He does dinner on Wednesday and is another shopper for staples.

Matt Beben works at United Saints, a project of the Methodist Church and Travis Wain works with Helping Hands.  Both programs involve working with the poor in rebuilding the city.  John Petrullo works at Café Reconcile.

Tuesday evening, Matt Beben drove Br. Charles and Br. John to a gathering of religious at the Marianite Sisters of the Holy Cross in the Bywater area for a discussion on violence and racism in New Orleans.  Sr. Helen Prejean spoke and discussion followed. 

On Thursday evening Br. Charles and Br. John joined John Petrullo for the graduation ceremonies for a group from Café Reconcile at the Loews’ Hotel on Canal Street.  Matt and Travis were at an Americorps meeting. 

   

Friday evening, Matt Beben and Travis Wain volunteered as servers at a fundraiser at the Court of Two Sisters in City Park for Boys Hope, Girls Hope, a residential program to assist young people with a stable living and study environment.

Saturday, Matt was with United Saints supervising a large group of Freshmen at Tulane University clearing lots in Center City while Travis was with Helping Hands supervising Frosh from Loyola gutting flooded houses in LaPlace.

On Saturday and Sunday, Good Shepherd Parish hosted the filming of a series on prayer by Fr. Mark Toups, [Director of Seminary Formation for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux], for Ascension Press.  The filming was at St. Henry’s Church; the parish used the first floor of our home, the Blessed Pauline Center to host breakfast, breaks and lunch for the audience of 50 persons.  John coordinated that, as well as a Saturday afternoon meeting of two Sisters of the Holy Faith and 12 possible associates for their community which they held in our living and dining room.  They had originally planned to meet downstairs, but the parish pre-empted that; the living dining area suited them well.

On Sunday, Bob and Charles headed for Mass at St. Gabriel’s in Pontchartrain Park, Br. John went to Mass at St. Stephen’s and Matt, John and Travis went to the 11:00 AM Mass at St. Louis Cathedral. 

Br. John with Sr. Adalberta Mette, SCC, Superior General in May 2010 with relic of Blessed Pauline in background

Br. John then attended a meeting of the Associates of the Sisters of Christian Charity from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM at their residence on Robert E. Lee Boulevard.  The Sisters of Christian Charity lived at the Blessed Pauline Center from 1873 to 1973 and still return here to hold Associate Gatherings.  Their founder, Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt stayed in this house twice with her Sisters.

This coming week Br. John flies to Tampa on Wednesday for Thursday’s 50^th Anniversary Celebration for Tampa Catholic High School; he flies back on Friday.

ISAAC'S LEGACY LINGERS

Hurricane Isaac is still much with us.  Last Saturday, Travis spent the day in LaPlace with his organization, “Helping Hands.”  There has also been terrible damage in Plaquemines Parish that could not be imagined—it has devastated areas that escaped damage during Katrina because this storm stalled and kept pushing water higher and higher.  Recovery will take some time.

On Sunday, September 2, after Mass at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Pontchartrain Park, two parishioners, Marigold Hardesty and Victor A. Gordon, came to us for dinner and conversation.  Marigold, who uses Mary for short, was born on Avery Island, where the McIlhenny family makes their renowned hot sauce, Victor was originally from Honduras.  Both graduated from Xavier University in the 1960’s and were teachers.  They shared their perception of race and culture and replied to questions we had.

Back:  Travis, Matt, Br. John, Br. Charles  Front:  Mary Hardesty, Victor Gordon and John

  Last week we slowly moved back to some normalcy.  Cox Cable came back on Tuesday, a week after it had gone down.  Folks who ‘bundled’ all their services with Cox paid a steep price—no internet, phone or TV.

 

After e-mail exchanges with  the Archdiocese, Malin Construction was sent in to shore up the front porch and they repaired out front door which for a week could not be closed and locked properly.  Randy from Malin did wonders!

Matt Beben and Travis Wain are associated with Americorps, and the orientation for the Notre Dame Americorps Volunteers was held on the first floor of our house, Monday through Thursday.  On Monday evening, the Volunteer Community invited the group to remain for a commissioning for the Matt, Travis and John Petrullo, who is volunteering with Café Reconcile. 

Br. Bob [Director, Lay Volunteer Program, Matt Beben, John Petrullo, Travis Wain

 

 

Br. Charles leading prayer

The Brothers pledge support of the volunteers.

Afterwards they joined us for a pasta dinner that Br. Bob cooked—and they saved room for dessert, too.  The Americorps director here, Jessica McKeown is a good friend now and the group seemed right at home.  One young lady was from the Bronx, others from here in NOLA, and around the country.

The Americorps dinner--one view

From another perspective--that's Jessica McKeown smiling on the right

 We are still adapting and adjusting.  Milk and orange juice go quickly, bananas don’t have time to get over-ripe, and English muffins and Oreo cookies disappear.

Travis Wain can back the van into its slot in our lot in one motion from the street—Br. John is in awe. 

 

The weekend of the 8^th, Bob raked up six very large bags of leaves and fallen branches as well as some he had to cut down on our property. 

On September 2^nd, at Mass at St. Gabriel’s in Pontchartrain Park the three volunteers had to stand up and introduce themselves.  This week, Br. John went with Matt, Travis and John to the 10:30 AM Mass at the Ignatius Chapel in Bobet Hall at Loyola University.  He assured them there would be no introductions.  Wrong.  Br. John was recognized, and at the end of Mass someone got up and asked him to introduce the volunteers!  He got up, and noting they were all college graduates, had them introduce themselves.  During doughnuts and coffee afterwards they got a chance to meet more folks. 

ISAAC -- CATEGORY ONE

Sunday, the 26th:  Matthew Beben, John Petrullo and Travis Wain arrive; Charles back from Seattle.  Isaac slowly moves across Gulf.

Monday, the 27th:  Sunny day, Isaac slowly moving--tropical storm or category one hurricane?  John told his flight on Tuesday to Vancouver is cancelled.  Re-books for Monday night.  Gets to airport--that flight cancelled.  All flights Tuesday cancelled.  Re-books for Wednesday afternoon.  It never happens.

Tuesday, the 28th: Orientation for volunteers starts; Bob cooks dinner--lights go out at 7 PM   Storm hits hard and stagnates.  House shakes and rocks, storm window crashes to ground at 3 AM, siding stripped off, water comes in under closed window, over sill, on to floor.  Uh, oh.  Mop the floor--volunteers huddle in living room. 

Wednesday, 29th:  Storm abates, winds keep up--no power.  Matt and Travis cook jaqmbalaya on stove top.  Great with a bottle of merlot.

Thursday, 30th:  90 degrees plus--meeting on common prayer, Bob and volunteers go off for a tour in air conditioned van.  Back to read and sweat.  Charles pulls off a pot roast for dinner on top of stove thanks to ingenuity and old cast iron pot.

Friday, 31st:  Hot, hot and humid.  No power.  Search for breeze.  Clean up broken glass and some debris.  Bob does pulled pork sandwiches in that cast iron pot for dinner.  Rouse's our local grocery is open--deserve a medal.  People roaming streets looking for repair crews.  Much damage a few blocks away.  At 7 PM, power is restored.

Saturday, Sept 1:  Matt off to work for All Saints, a Methodist reconstruction group.  Rest hit stores, put stuff we brought in back outside.

Sunday, Sept 2:  Mass at St. Gabriel's at 10:30 AM--home, guests for dinner [more on this later]--problems with AC on third floor and in main part of house.  Volunteers tough it out.

Monday, Sept 3:  LABOR DAY  Matt off to All Saints again this morning--local Church celebrated feast of Pope St. Gregory the Great--sort of skipped Labor Day--true ROMAN Catholics.  Sigh!

Days without power, how does one while away the hours.  How about some doggerel?

 

Three days of Isaac now done,

It was named a category one,

Unending rain, wind, no sun

Not really very much fun.

The six of us did O.K.

Volunteers decided to stay,

The house shook, now let us pray,

The third floor ain’t blown away.

On Tuesday the power went out

We had none for three days, about,

The third floor was hottest no doubt

So the volunteers cool places did scout.

Ice chests for storage we’ve got,

Thank God the water stayed hot,

We had hot meals cooked in a pot,

Did we starve, certainly not!

Matthew, and Travis and John

Took it in stride, with aplomb

While the weather really went wrong,

Orientation moved right along.

65 mph winds and hibiscus plants don't mix well

They now know community life

Can be lived despite lots of strife

Of their goodness examples are rife

Despite heat you could cut with a knife!

Our houses’ aged exterior

After years of upkeep inferior

Found Isaac’s winds vastly superior,

At least Isaac spared the interior.

 

Storm windows were broken and tossed,

Siding swept away; now largely lost,

A pillar, unrepaired due to cost

May collapse, a hurdle to cross.  

For years, repairs promised, not made

Or when done of inferior grade

“Don’t worry,” they say, “plans are made.”

After years of this nonsense hopes fade.

 Come Saturday no reason to pout,

The AC is on, give a shout,

We slept well; folks are walking about

But that pillar is still rotted out.

The rotted pillar is not just a sign

Of decay of a house that’s a shrine

The issue’s easy today to define

IT CARRIES OUR ELECTRICAL LINE.