FEBRUARY 2014: ROBERT DROEL IN NOLA: BEEN THERE—NOT DONE THAT!

Robert Droel’s visit with us gave him the opportunity to shadow Brothers and volunteers and the community the chance to reflect on what was worth seeing.  Bob visited the “Lower 9^th Ward”, the most devastated area in the city even today; population has not returned and large swaths of the area are empty.  Charles drove him around the French Quarter [it was raining Charles said] and on another day got him to experience the 30 mile long Causeway over Lake Pontchartrain.  At the end of the week, Charles took Rob to see Travis Wain’s work and the three of them went to Café Reconcile where Brother Joe Fragala ministered for three years before his untimely death.  The Café was renovated and upgraded dramatically with the support of the famous chef, Emeril Legasse and others.  Joe’s picture is located so that he keeps his eye on the kitchen.  Travis Wain had Joe in class and he and his family were close personal friends of Joe.

WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE

On Saturday, February 8, John went to the Archdiocesan celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Holy Family, a congregation begun by Mother Henriette DeLille who is a candidate for canonization.  Over 250 religious joined with Archbishop Gregory Aymond for a prayer service.  When John arrived, Sr. Beth Fitzpatrick greeted him with: “Blessed art thou amongst women”, since he was the only male there besides the Archbishop.  Later, Br. Herman Johnson, OP, [the first Brother Prior in the history of the Order] who lived with the Brothers at Rice HS in Harlem, came with a Dominican priest—a lone Franciscan Brother also came.  The Archbishop was a student of the Sacred Heart Brothers at what is now Brother Martin HS; after the luncheon he stopped John and asked about the Volunteer Community; Sr. Beth had waxed eloquent about her visit here a week ago and Archbishop Aymond is always mindful and vocally, publically grateful for the women and men religious in the Archdiocese, always speaking of his ‘co-ministers.’

FROM ACTION HEROES TO ZOMBIES, COMIC CON DRAWS THEM ALL  -- WE MEAN ALL

Lauren Zanfardino and her friend, Hillary [owner of a new puppy that is now a major factor in Lauren’s schedule] went to Comic Con on Saturday.

 A local paper began with: “Remy Dee’s electric blue tail swayed ever so slightly as she followed a train of gun-toting stormtroopers and a sultry Spider-Woman through a ballroom in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Saturday.

Dee was dressed as Twilight Sparkle, the popular Hasbro toy and character in the 1986 movie “My Little Pony.”

The 26-year-old burlesque dancer, nicknamed “The Chalmation Sensation,” was bedecked in a form-fitting hot purple top and a shimmering blue wig with a horn on it.

“These are my people,” she said, gesturing toward the thousands of fantasy lovers, sci-fi fans and comic-book enthusiasts who were milling throughout the room.

“If I wear a ‘My Little Pony’ shirt to the grocery store, people would look at me funny,” she said. “Here, I get hugs.”

Dee’s costumed brethren had assembled for Comic Con, a pop culture and fantasy gathering that touched down in New Orleans for the fourth time this weekend.” 

Lauren quite enjoyed it and shared the story with Erika, Travis and Br. John at some point on Sunday morning.  The age differential in the group was at least as wide as Lake Pontchartrain, despite John having knowledge of such things through his own brother, another devotee of such rituals.  Luckily it appears Lauren is not allergic to zombies or glitter and can be in the same room—but forget peanut butter.

NOLA INTERFAITH PEACE INITIATIVE

The Peace Initiative group met at Grace United Methodist Church on Canal Street at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, the 11^th.  John joined Sr. Claire Regan a fellow board member for a group of religious seeking to cooperate with programs working to end violence in the New Orleans community.  Several other Catholic religious were in a group that was multi-racial, and varied in faith traditions.  At these monthly meetings there is some attempt at inclusivity, but there are also cringe-worthy moments.  But good will prevails and folks are beginning to learn to walk together.  The prayer we recite is based on one Archbishop Aymond drafted which is recited each Sunday at Mass.

FOR REFLECTION:

This is the adaptation of Archbishop Aymond’s ‘Family Prayer’ suitable for all Faith traditions.

Loving and faithful God, through the years the people of the Greater New Orleans area have turned to YOU in times of war, disaster, epidemic and illness. We come to you, Our Creator,  and ask you to help us in the battle of today against violence, murder and racism.

We implore you to give us your wisdom that we may build a community founded on the faith values that give respect to the life and dignity of all people.

Bless parents that they more form their children in faith. Bless and protect our youth that they may be peacemakers of our time. Give consolation to those who have lost loved ones through violence.

Hear our prayer and give us the perseverance to be a voice for life and human dignity in our community.

AMEN

BLOG 02.13.14

FEBRUARY 2014 BEGINS: JASPERS AND GOLD STARS

At the beginning of the month, we start with two write-ups that tell you something about who we are at the Christian Brothers Volunteer Community in New Orleans. 

 

JASPERS and GAELS

  

The first is from Ben Boivin, an Admissions and Financial Aide Counselor at Manhattan College, the home of the “Jaspers”.  Himself a 2009 graduate of Manhattan College, this was his second time heading a team of 11 students in a Lasallian group doing service in New Orleans.  They came to us Friday evening at the end of their time in NOLA to have a meal and meet our long-term volunteers [all Iona “Gaels”] and reflect on their experience of Christian service in New Orleans.  [See the previous blog post.]

Br. John

For the second year in a row, my visit to NOLA has been the most powerful experience of my life.  On the flight home I thought about our reflection on Friday night.  It is difficult to get 11 college students together on any given Friday night, but that particular evening was maybe the best one they will have in their college career.  Our group was buzzing with excitement and energy and that is due to you Brothers and the incredible volunteers.  I am so glad that through Marita Keane, we were able to share thoughts and emotions once again.  Your hospitality means a lot to the Jaspers.

Blue skies,

Ben Boivin

The dinner and evening reflections were coordinated by Travis Wain supported by Erika Enlund and Lauren Zanfardino.

GOLD STAR

                                                                                                                                                    

Travis Wain, Iona ‘12, worked on construction projects last year at Helping Hands which rebuilds homes for the poor and those on the margins of society. This year, his second as an Americorps volunteer, he heads up a team of four recently homeless who run a center providing showers, laundry and other services to needy folks.  The program is a joint venture of the City of New Orleans and the Veteran’s Administration which contracts with the non-profit Harry Tompson Center to run the program.  Travis, who is with the Harry Tompson Center, initiated and now coordinates this new multi-agency program that, in January served 455 people, including 173 who did laundry but did not shower, 87 who only showered, and 195 who availed of both services.  

Following is what appeared in the agency’s internal communication recently.

“Our Gold Star this week goes to Travis Wain!  Travis is the Community Resource and Referral site coordinator for the Harry Tompson Center, one of the primary community partners supporting the CRRC mission.  He is directly responsible for overseeing the laundry service and shower programs.  He heads an outstanding four-person team, also from the Harry Tompson Center in operating these essential quality of life programs.  In addition to managing these programs, Travis has volunteered to run our clothing distribution program, which provides donated clothing to those in need, and to help with the food service program that is sponsored by key community partner Ozanam Inn.

When the CRCC opened on October 1, all of these programs were new and required a considerable amount of operational and logistical fine tuning.  From day one, Travis exhibited exceptional initiative in getting these programs running efficiently as soon as possible.  Within a week, Travis and his team had established the processes now in place that ensure each of these highly utilized programs run smoothly.

[Note:  In its first month the Center did 276 loads of laundry and provided 231 showers.  In January the Center did 835 laundry loads, provided 949 showers and distributed 532 hygiene kits.]

Travis and his team play a vital role in the success of the CRCC, and the relationship between the Veterans Administration and Harry Tompson is exactly what we envisioned when we built the CRCC.  Our vision was to synergize our efforts with those of strong local community partners to provide the best care and service possible to the homeless citizens of New Orleans.”

Travis graduated from Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School where he and his family were very close to Br. Joe Fragala, a founding member of this Volunteer Community.  At Iona he majored in Marketing. 

VOCATION/FORMATION

Rob Droel, an Iona graduate who is at Catholic Theological in Chicago, is currently a non-residential candidate for the Congregation of Christian Brothers and came at the invitation of the community to experience our mission and ministry.  He arrived, on a delayed flight late on Saturday, February 1 and we introduced him to New Orleans culture with dinner at Ignatius, a favorite eatery on Magazine Street.  Sunday he attended Mass with Br. Bob and Br. Charles at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Pontchartrain Park and got a walk in with Br. John in the afternoon.  Sunday evening he spent some time at a gathering here at the house hosted by the volunteers for other volunteers in New Orleans.  On Monday, he spent the day with Br. Charles and on Tuesday spent some time with Br. Bob.

SUPER BOWL

All work and no play is not good, so. . .

Erika Enlund coordinated a gathering at the house on Super Bowl Sunday.  She handled all the arrangements and much of the cooking for the 30 or so guests who gathered in the Map Room on the first floor, some of whom even watched the game on the TV.  Guests also brought refreshments, solid and liquid.  Rumor has it that there was one Seahawk fan, a native of Seattle, among the guests—Erika informed us the young lady rejoiced—silently—in this town that, being Saints country, cheered for the Broncos.

FOR REFLECTION

“The proclamation of the Gospel is destined primarily to the poor, to those who often lack the essentials for a decent life. The good news is first announced to them, that God loves them before all others and comes to visit them through the acts of charity that the disciples of Christ carry out in his name.”

Pope Francis:  Address to the Ecclesial Convention of the Diocese of Rome, [6/17/13]