MID-MARCH 2014: TRANSITIONS NOW AND THEN

Erika Enlund

On Saturday, the 15^th of March, Erika Enlund, to her delight and that of the Volunteer Community and her family, was notified of her acceptance to the Graduate Program of Pratt Institute for Art and Design.  As the school’s publicity states: “Pratt Institute’s   Graduate Communications Design department  has been educating graphic and package designers for over 40 years. We currently offer a 60-credit Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree and two 48-credit Master of Science (MS) degrees. The program is ranked in the top 12 of over 200 graduate graphic design programs in the nation, as reported in U.S. News & World Report. Pratt is ranked 6th in the top 25 design schools in the world by Business Insider. 

This is a wonderful achievement; happily Erika will continue here in community through July. Erika is a lively and life-giving member of community here and at Lantern Light where she ministers.  

Travis, Lauren Zanfardino, Molly Sherry [2010-11]

On the other hand, earlier in the week, Travis Wain ended his commitment to the Volunteer Community; Monday was his last day residing with us.  He is remaining as a Christian Brother Americorps volunteer managing the new Veterans Administration Community Resource and Referral Center but has made other living arrangements.  When his Americorps time is over he plans to continue in New Orleans.  Travis was with the Volunteer Community for 18 months and was an integral and valued member; we will miss his presence and wish him well for the future.

On Tuesday, Br. Bob set off for a visit to Seattle, where he worked in a leadership role in O’Dea High School’s major annual fundraising event for many years.  Fittingly, John drove him to the airport in a driving rain, which seems to have followed him.  We look forward to his return on Wednesday, the 20^th.  We are closing our house in Seattle after many years in the Pacific Northwest.

Lauren, Br. Bob, Molly Sherry and Allison Maraldo [2010-11]

On Thursday, John spent the afternoon doing a Discovery Walk as a coach for the leadership at Pope John Paul II High School in Slidell, Louisiana, about 45 minutes by car from our home in Uptown.

On Friday, the 14^th, the first Lenten Fish Fry [a fundraiser common in local parishes on Fridays in Lent] was held on the first floor of the house immediately after the Station of the Cross at St. Henry’s Church.  A record 48 dinners were sold [$10] ; our volunteers Lauren and Erika were out with Diego Mas, a guest of Lauren’s who is staying with us but Charles and John bought dinners [they were given a discount] and the food was delicious!!  Cooked by somebody else, too!

That same Friday evening, at intermission during a presentation at St. Henry’s Church, 200 or so people came to the BPC to use the facilities on the first floor.  The front lawn was transformed for the reception with tiny lights amidst the Carolina jasmine climbing the walls, tables with lamps and overhead lighting, also.  It was stunning.

Charles singing "A Nation Once Again"?

On Saturday, Br. John facilitated a presentation on peace initiatives being taken by religious in New Orleans for a group of Dominican Sisters of Peace at their Province Center on Broadway Street.  

Saturday also saw Br. Charles, Erika, Lauren and her guest, Diego Mas going to view a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Irish Channel which celebrated Sr. Vera Butler, PBVM who is director of Lantern Light Ministries.  Saturday night Charles then attended a fundraiser for the Harry Thompson Center which shares the Rebuild Center with Lantern Light.   Erika helped staff the gathering. 

 

In the coming week Charles is invited Monday night to a dinner sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians honoring Sr. Vera and raising funds for Lantern Light ministries.  John is at Holy Cross School for a Discovery Walk on Tuesday, Bob returns on Wednesday.  On Thursday we welcome a dozen students and staff from Iona College for dinner and reflection and on Friday, the 21^st another Fish Fry.  

Sr. Vera Butler, PBVM chatting with a guest at Lantern Light at the Rebuild Center

Lauren Zanfardino continues as a teacher aide, language skills specialist, and sometimes substitute teacher for her Fourth Graders at Langston Hughes.  Erika continues her work at Lantern Light.  An early entry on a Lantern Light blog said: “Her role at the center is mainly to interact with the guests and troubleshoot their needs.  She has taken on the responsibility of lining up the guests for lunch and reading the daily prayer.”  That is just the beginning.  She has also developed cooking skills—she handles Tuesday night for the community.  With coaching from her Dad over the phone she served up perfectly done London Broil last week, thin sliced and great later for sandwiches.  

In Nairobi, Kenya, Christian Brothers from around the world are gathered in a Chapter, a sexennial gathering that determines the course of the Congregation, setting out themes, goals and aspirations for the membership.  This gathering is the culmination of steps taken in previous General Chapters to plan a new course for the Christian Brothers sensitive and responsive to changed demographics of the Brothers and the needs of our times.  It is a time of anticipation and hope—and needs prayer and humility as a response.  The times have changed.  

REFLECTION

These changed times shape Br. John’s reflections about the anniversary of his entrance to the congregation, on July 4, 1964.  There are 6 of the 100 or so who joined still in the Brothers.  Our straightened circumstances and recent events in our Province history suggest a modest remembrance: participating in the Mass for Jubilarians in May that the Archdiocese of New Orleans generously provides; then attending a reunion of those who joined ‘back in the day’ that occurs in June in New Rochelle, NY and on the 4th of July, morning Mass and breakfast out.  For his 25^th he had Mass and a cookout in the backyard of 21 Pryer Terrace.  Then, as now, it meant no talks!  And John happens to have found a place that has the BEST French toast.

Mary Oliver has it just right.  You just keep on swimming. . .

“You don’t want to hear the story
of my life, and anyway
I don’t want to tell it, I want to listen

to the enormous waterfalls of the sun.

And anyway it’s the same old story - - -
a few people just trying,
one way or another,
to survive.

Mostly, I want to be kind.
And nobody, of course, is kind,
or mean,
for a simple reason.

And nobody gets out of it, having to
swim through the fires to stay in
this world.

(from, Dogfish)”
― Mary Oliver

BLOG 03.16.14