This is a look back at the last
two weeks
.
On April 6, John left for the
Edmund Rice Christian Brothers School Leadership Meetings in Salinas,
California at Palma High School where the Brothers have ministered since the
1950’s. Br. Dennis Dunne, who joined the
same time as John [1964] has been principal there for almost three decades and
has done an outstanding job. The
participants, heads of schools and chairs of boards of directors, stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel; it is a
beautiful spot with broad plazas overlooking Monterey Bay and a welcoming
staff, elegant accommodations and wonderful food. The meetings arranged by the Office of
Educational Services [Srs. Ona Bessette, CND and Grace D’Amico, SSND] were
appropriate, interactive, and helpful with several excellent guest speakers and
participants from Uruguay, Argentina, Canada and across the United States. Technology permitted one guest speaker to
address and interact with the group through SKYPE!
 |
| "But first they took a selfie" |
While John was away, it was not
all work and no play. On Tuesday, before
his departing dust settled, Erika and Lauren convinced Br. Bob and Br. Charles
to leave the security of hearth and home and venture out to Oak Street and a
place called “TruBurger.” They were
lured by the promise of a discount for Americorps volunteers which the girls
got for them too. The accompanying
“selfie” was thought appropriate since even Pope Francis and the Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge have endorsed the practice. [What next?]
John returned on the 11th,
French Quarter Fest [a free festival on the streets of the Quarter] ensued,
and Lauren Zanfardino’s family arrived
in New Orleans. Lauren stayed with them,
and while we did not see them, the reports are she had every minute planned and
despite rain and storm, they saw everything on the list.
On the 15th of April,
Bob celebrated the 53rd anniversary of his 18th birthday
with Erika, John and Charles, [Lauren was at the airport—storms delayed her
family’s departure.] Bob insisted on
cooking himself—it involve rib eye steak, 500 degree oven, black pans, searing,
and a brief time in a hot oven—anyway, the baked potatoes were wonderful, the
sautéed onions sweet and savory, and the steaks—perfection. Charles is still sighing in contentment. Bob’s birthday present was a gift card to
Home Depot. When Erika questioned the
appropriateness of the gift, Bob assured her: “It’s a big boys toy store.”
The birthday was a brief
departure during Holy Week—and as the Zanfardino’s left, Erika Enlunds parents
arrived. Erika stayed with her parents,
Lauren was off with a friend, so the Brothers were ‘home alone’ during the
Triduum. It was a quiet, meditative time
for them.
On Easter Sunday everyone came
together for a lovely brunch at the House of Charity on Cambronne Street with
Sr. Monica Gundler and Sr. Claire Regan hosting ourselves, the Enlunds, Holy
Faith, Dominican and Presentation Sisters.
John came home with a new recipe for scones. Easter Sunday dinner was a feast prepared by
Erika’s parents, Erik and Joanne, and we were all home, joined by Lauren’s pal,
Hillary, a librarian at Lauren’s school.
On the 21st, John
leaves for Pittsburgh for the NCEA convention for Catholic educators—wondering
what will transpire at 4219 Constance while he is away this time.
REFLECTION:
We Brothers and our volunteer
companions are much involved in charitable work and we tire ourselves out doing
things, but we try to keep in mind why we do it. It is about Jesus, and our relationship with
him. As Pope Francis said:
“We can walk as much as we want, we can build many things, but if we do
not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong. We may become a charitable NGO, but
not the Church, the Bride of the Lord.”
Pope Francis, in this address, before his election to
the Chair of Peter, spoke of sacrifice to his brother priests but the words
apply to us all.
“Walking,
building-constructing, professing: the thing, however, is not so easy, because
in walking, in building, in professing, there are sometimes shake-ups - there
are movements that are not part of the path: there are movements that pull us
back.
This Gospel continues with a
special situation. The same Peter who confessed Jesus Christ, says, “You are
the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak
of the Cross. This has nothing to do with it.” He says, “I’ll follow you on
other ways that do not include the Cross.” When we walk without the Cross, when
we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we
are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly; we are bishops, priests,
cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord.”
BLOG 04.21.14
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