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| Photo: Eliot Kamentiz for the TIMES PICAYUNE |
“How we built the world’s prison capital.” “Sheriffs and politicians have financial
incentives to keep people locked up.”
“Louisiana imprisons more people than any nation in the world. 1,619 people per 100,000 residents; Russia—525;
Rwanda—450; Iran—333; China—122; Afghanistan—62.” “One in every 86 adults is doing time in
Louisiana.” These are headlines from the
series that began May 12, 2912 in THE TIMES-PICAYUNE.
It helps one answer the question: “Why are we in New Orleans?” This is mission country! You can access this at NOLA.COM but a
warning—it is depressing stuff.
During the first week of May, Charles was at Lantern
Light, Bob at OHH working on finances, and working from home for the volunteer
program, and at Lantern Light doing some repairs for them. As the week began, John
visited Ursuline Academy to do their first Discovery Walk.
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| Exterior view of the Rebuild Center which houses Lantern Light Ministries |
Saturday, May 5 is
the feast day assigned to Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice—we postponed our
celebration to Sunday evening and dinner at the new location of ‘Ignatius’ a
place named after the lead character in “CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES” [which was
written by a St. Henry’s parishioner.]
For dessert we visited Caitlyn DeCastro’s favorite sweet shop: SUCRE.
The congregation
is marking the 250th anniversary of Edmund Rice’s birth on June 1 in
a special way, as we will. More on that
when it happens!
During the second week of May, John was at Academy of Our
Lady on Tuesday; that evening his cousin, Michael Flanagan visited the
community. John spent Wednesday at the
School Leadership Center at the Lakeside Campus of the University of New
Orleans. Charles and Bob continued as
during the first week. Bob is in regular
contact with three young men who, even as they are graduating, are also filling
out forms, making contacts and getting recommendations for ministries in NOLA
next year when they are living in community with us. We look forward to having volunteers again.
At the Blessed Pauline Center, while the parish pays for
the grass to be cut and regular visits by an exterminator, the Brothers take
care of most other maintenance and have brought back the gardens and added to
them. With regular rain and abundant sun
this Spring, a fair amount of pruning is a constant necessity. We have had good guidance from neighbors
about what to plant and have added to what was here; the general aspect is more
attractive to visitors and our neighbors and the work is a nice outlet for us!
During John’s meetings at the School Leadership Center on
Wednesday, the group was reminded that the key to successful outcomes in the schools was, as always, the
quality of local leadership. One
reflection on leadership rang especially true to lived experience:
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