HALLOWEEN APPROACHES 2013

During the week of October 14, Br. John attended the annual School Leaders Retreat in Henderson, Nevada for Edmund Rice affiliated schools.  Twenty nine school leaders from Canada, the United States, Argentina and Uruguay gathered for reflection on leadership today.  No photographs available, so here’s one of another recent gathering of spiritual leaders.

Not the group in Henderson, Nevada

 Br. Barry Lynch came on visitation October 16 through 23 and was able to visit several of the ministry sites.  

On Sunday, October 20^th, with all of our volunteers now in ministry positions, Br. Bob commissioned Erica, Travis and Lauren in a brief ceremony attended by a small group of friends.  A reception that the volunteers hosted followed the ceremony.  These were our first visitors this year!  No photographs available, so here’s one of another recent commitment ceremony.

Not the living room at 4219 Constance--but a nice group shot at another commitment ceremony

 John was told to get his shape up to Newark, NJ on Monday, the 23^rd for a meeting the 24^th in New York, returning on the 25^th.  He got the opportunity to fight his way through New York City crowds for 10 blocks with two long-legged companions.  He felt his exercise quotient was filled that day.  No pictures of that either, but here’s a cute one.

No women were present at the meeting John attended

 Erika was also in the New York metropolitan area giving a talk at Iona College about the Volunteer program.  She also left Monday, returned Wednesday morning and was at Lantern Light by 9:30 AM.  No pictures of her address, but to give you an idea. . .

We believe Erika stood while giving her presentation--but she revealed little

 Jessica Mc Keown and the Notre Dame Americorps group that Lauren belongs to met in the Blessed Pauline room on Thursday, the 24^th;  while John and Travis attended a screening of “Shell Shocked” about the awful murder rate in New Orleans and how some groups are striving to deal with it.  www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/05/shell_shocked_documentary_exam.html

 

Travis has settled into his office at the program which he supervises which provides showers and laundry facilities.  He got a dozen red roses from the Sisters’ at Lantern Light on his departure—but keeps going back.

 

Not TJ's office, but the roses were sent over to him---so special!

 As an antidote to life in general, John is rereading Barbara Pym’s novels.  He finished “Excellent Women” on his return from New York and is starting “A Glass of Blessings.”  For his sanity, “The Hobbit” is looking pretty good, too.

There are signs of Halloween all around us; the volunteers are nowhere to be seen evenings and weekends.  Saturday night, October 26 was “Krewe d’Boo” parade, but only eleven floats according to one reveler— oh, what one gets costumed for!  

REFLECTION:  As seen on a t-shirt

MEDDLE NOT IN THE

AFFAIRS OF DRAGONS

FOR YOU ARE CRUNCHY

AND GOOD WITH KETCHUP

It has been that kind of a few weeks--but the weather has been pleasant.