Br. Barry Lynch arrived yesterday for visitation with the
community; Molly Sherry arrived today for a visit. She was a volunteer here in 2010-11 and
facilitated the retreat evening for Iona College when Travis, a current
volunteer was on their mission trip.
During the week past we returned to our regular pursuits. For Travis this meant long daily drives to
St. Charles Parish which often meant he had to leave before our 7 AM morning
prayer and return when we were already at dinner. Matt’s ministry site has not had any big
projects recently so much time is spent gearing up for the groups that will
soon be arriving. John Petrullo is in
the process of transferring from Café Reconcile to Lantern Light
Ministries. Lantern Light will provide
more interaction with people in need as well as a similar stipend and
Americorps college repayment benefit that Matt and Travis enjoy.
We are getting older, too.
John Petrullo celebrated his 22nd birthday on
December 1st with a wander through suburban Metairie with Travis and
another Americorps volunteer. A visit to
“Buffalo Wild Wings” a place so renowned for its ‘wings’ that they have valet
parking was one of the highlights. After
an exhausting day wandering, the birthday boy and the rest of the community
went to a restaurant on St. Charles Avenue called “Zea’s.” Wonderful.
Now Advent begins. In
this city that is always becoming, it is a particularly interesting liturgical
season. New Orleans seems to experience
many natural and manmade traumas, but lives in anticipation. It is not merely anticipation of a hoped for
future; it is an appreciation that there is joy here now, that the Kingdom is
in our midst if we are watchful and aware.
One engages in real conversation with the checkout clerks at Walmart and
Rouse’s, the waiter or waitress does actually want you to enjoy your meal and
the flourish that comes with a serving of turtle soup at Commander’s Palace is
done with aplomb and no self-consciousness.
Your neighbor gives you a wine bottle wind chime that is elegant and
beautiful sounding, nothing expected in return.
The visitor admires our home and is startled when told that much that is
seen was donated, or given at cost.
And
at Lantern Light, the poor greet the day with hope, always say thank you, and
take care of each other and the facility while the Presentation Sisters model,
quite naturally and spontaneously, joy in serving Christ in strangers guise.
From John Henry
Cardinal Newman
They watch for Christ
who are sensitive, eager, apprehensive in mind,
who are awake, alive, quick-sighted,
zealous in honoring him,
who look for him in all that happens, and
who would not be surprised,
who would not be over-agitated or overwhelmed,
if they found that he was coming at once…
This then is to watch:
to be detached
from what is present, and
to live in what is
unseen;
to live in the
thought of Christ as he came once,
and as he will
come again;
to desire his
second coming, from our affectionate
and grateful remembrance of his first.
No comments:
Post a Comment