MAY 2014 TRANSITIONS

On Sunday, May 11, Br. Bob went to Mass at St. Joseph’s on Tulane Avenue and he and the congregation were treated to a pigeon which circled the altar and landed on the celebrant’s chair—with the celebrant in the chair.  Erika claims if it were a dove it would have been acclaimed a miracle and believes it is unfair to pigeons to relegate them to the status of nuisance.  Erika and John went to St. Stephen’s Church—no pigeons—and followed it up with a reconnaissance mission at the Broken Egg Café on Magazine Street—it was as good as they remembered it—crowded of course since it was Mother’s Day.

During the week Bob was at St. Joseph’s everyday; the pastor, a Vincentian priest, is in Paris for congregation meetings.  Not shabby.  Bob had such a fun week he is again thinking about the relative advantages of ‘booting’ cars; the big problem is he’d have to unlock them whenever it was necessary.

Erika has had a number of adventures traveling to work.  Circumstances with the volunteers and her wish to be at Lantern Light early have her taking the bus in the early, early morning.  She has become one of a group of regulars, who share information on eateries, where to get an early morning cup of coffee, and insights into a native’s view of life in New Orleans.  Armed with modern communication technology, time on the bus is used to check up on friends, associates, and Justin Timberlake, may his name be praised—as it is, frequently if Erika is in the room.  Sisters Pauline O’Reilly, CHF and Nancy Hale, CHF got big bonus points for inviting Erika to view a special on J.T. [as he is affectionately known by the chosen few] on the Oprah network which they get.  We don’t have it at our domicile, which is tragic or lucky depending.

John, Claire, Kathleen, Kitty and Maura

 On May 14^th, John and Sr. Kathleen Nealon, MSC were treated to a wonderful brunch by the other members of the Burning Bush executive committee at the home of Sr. Maura O’Donovan, CHF.  Maura, Sr. Kitty Bethea, OP, and Sr. Claire Regan, SC, celebrated John’s Golden Jubilee and Sr. Kathleen’s assignment to Haiti with prayer, a lovely brunch and some stories—if you can believe John telling stories.

Lauren Zanfardino has struggled with mononucleosis and stomach upset as well as having to watch her diet.  She has a very demanding assignment at Langston Hughes Charter School; however a real bright spot has been her acceptance to a graduate program at Loyola Maryland in her chosen field.  One of the best organized and certainly the neatest person in our house, she has planned carefully for her transition to graduate school life.  In order to attend to health issues, school work here, and her future plans she has decided to change her living arrangements.  She will move to where she can live in the same place as Hillary, a fellow professional at Langston Hughes with whom Lauren will be sharing an apartment in Baltimore when they both move there this summer.  Hillary, who has been a guest in our home, is sensitive to Lauren’s dietary restrictions being a vegetarian and had a roommate move out.   Health issues, a demanding work situation and planning for the future make the move a good one for Lauren who will continue to visit with us and share community celebrations while in New Orleans.

On the 15^th of May, before her move, Bob and John went out with Lauren and Erika to Juan’s Flying Burrito, a Creole Mexican Restaurant, to celebrate Lauren’s and Erika’s respective acceptances to their chosen graduate schools for next year.

On the 17^th, Bob flew to Seattle for events marking the closing of our community in that city; John and Erika hosted a dozen or more Sisters at a “Newcomers” gathering for religious who came to NOLA after Kartrina.  A week of cool weather ensued; Charles returned from his time at his alma mater [O'Dea HS] where he also taught, on the 22^nd and Bob, also a member of the faculty at O'Dea in Seattle for many years,  on the 25^th.

REFLECTION

The cat.  Erika says it is not 'feral', just wild.  John Petrullo named him Karen!  Yet, he remains with us still.

                                           

Awaiting the next meal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karen's pose for formal portraits

 

Dining in!

APRIL INTO MAY 2014: and a Jubilee

John, Erika, Lauren, Bob [in the back] joined by Sisters of Charity, the Presentation, Holy Faith, Daughters of Charity after the Jubilee Mass at St. Rita's Church in New Orleans

Easter Week began with a holiday for most of us on Easter Monday; John traveled to Pittsburgh for the NCEA Convention.  Lauren’s school was closed for the week, while Erika, Charles and Bob returned to regular pursuits. 

At the convention, John attended presentations by Br. Ray Vercruysse on boards and Br. Dennis Gunn’s Presentation:  Critical Catechesis: The Role of Critical Thinking in Adolescent Faith Development. Dennis just received his doctorate from Fordham University and the presentation was based on his thesis.   It has applicability to faith development at all stages of young adulthood and was presented with Dennis typical erudition, and good humor.  The province sponsored an evening meal on Wednesday; an excellent chance to renew acquaintance and exchange information.  On Thursday, Dr. Robert Marzano, an often quoted researcher and author of the well respected book THE SCIENCE AND ART OF TEACHING and six other books was the keynote speaker.  Dr. Marzano, unbeknownst to most, was a Christian Brother during his four college years, joining the same year as John, in 1964.  John had breakfast with him Thursday morning and when Bob Marzano took the stage, he announced that although most people did not know it, he was a Christian Brother for a time and joined in 1964, with Br. John Casey and Br. Dennis Dunne, who were in the audience and were celebrating their Golden Jubilees this year.  Talk about letting the cat out of the bag!  Bob Marzano’s rock star status for many in the world of education meant there was a big crowd even on that last day of the convention—and they were paying attention. 

John returned home on the 25^th on an unusually expensive flight since it was the beginning of Jazz Fest.  The weather was beautiful for it and it was a great success.  No one here went; tickets are quite expensive and folks had other interests. 

The second week of Easter had Lauren still struggling with some health issues; it turned out she has mononucleosis and needs rest.  The rest were back to work, John making his last Discovery Walk visit to Pope John Paul II High School in Slidell, LA—it happened to be a great experience for the visitors and the administrators and teachers who made the walk—a nice conclusion that verified the efforts of the faculty and staff at school improvement in the last year.

The week of April 28^th found Charles awaiting a niece and her family traveling across country from the Seattle area to their new home in Georgia nearer one of the niece’s daughters.  As it turned out, weather delayed their drive till late in the week, but Charles got them to see where he works and a bit of New Orleans.  A young candidate for the Vincentians visited us for dinner and a chat on Monday.

Wednesday, April 30^th was the feast of Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt, founder of the Sisters of Christian Charity.  This was her first foundation in the United States and she visited and lived in this house on two separate occasions.  The morning Mass in the parish was for the intentions of the Sisters, we used the Litany of Blessed Pauline for prayer, and we had a special dinner to celebrate.  We are looking forward to a visit from the newly elected Superior General of this world-wide congregation in early June.

On Saturday, May 3^rd Charles left for Seattle to participate in a number of activities as we withdraw our community from that place.  O’Dea High School is thriving and even as we are sad at having to leave, we are glad that a new generation of Catholic faculty and administrators has the commitment, zeal and vision to carry on the work of Catholic education.  Charles graduated from the school more than 70 years ago and taught there also.  Bob Koppes will be joining him later in the month to be present as Brother in this transition time.  He also spent many happy years there, and returns annually to work in their major fundraiser.

That same Saturday, a dozen or so Sisters and friends of the Congregation of Holy Faith celebrated a Mass here in the Pauline Room for a recently departed Sister, Liz Curtis, who had taught in New Orleans for a number of years.

John's Dad always said: "Enunciate clearly."  Who knew?

On Sunday, the Archdiocese of New Orleans sponsored the Annual Jubilee Celebration of Priests, Sisters, Brothers and Deacons.  Archbishop Gregory Aymond presided at St. Rita’s Church on Upperline Avenue near Notre Dame Seminary and the Archbishop’s Residence.  We celebrated 75, 70, 65, 60, 50,40 and 25 years.  There were few present in the higher categories, and among the 25 year Jubilarians, 10 of the 17 were deacons; 4 were priests, 2 sisters and one Brother.

There were 24 Golden Jubilarians; not all attended.  John did the first reading and after the Mass there was, as one would expect, a wonderful reception with marvelous offerings that included lots of shrimp in various guises, artichoke balls, mini-muffalettas, etc.  When told that, in answer to a question by a volunteer about what happens at a Jubilee ceremony, one of the Brothers said, “A longer Mass, but the Archbishop has a knockout reception,” Archbishop Aymond laughed and said, with some delight, “I’d rather be remembered for that than a lot of other things.”

Erika, John, Lauren and Bob at the reception after the Jubilee Mass on  May 4th.

 On a poignant note, it would have been the 60^th Jubilee of ordination to the priesthood for Msgr. Ignatius M. Roppolo, a friend of the Brothers and of John’s.  He also had Parkinson’s for many years; John and he walked on many Saturday mornings and before he moved to Chateau de Notre Dame they used to exercise from 5:30 to 6:30 AM at Touro Infirmary three days a week.  He died on Thursday, May 2 and was buried on Monday the 5^th.  John attended his funeral Mass.

Monday, May 5 was the Feastday of Edmund Rice; we used the Litany of Edmund Rice for Evening Prayer.  Then, in honor of Edmund Ignatius Rice, and Msgr. Ignatius Roppolo, and because it is open on Monday and can provide a gluten free meal for Lauren, we went to Ignatius Restaurant on Magazine Street for dinner.  The restaurant is named after the title character in A Confederacy of Dunces, a picaresque novel by American novelist John Kennedy Toole which appeared in 1980, eleven years after Toole's suicide.  Its central character, Ignatius J. Reilly, is an educated but slothful 30-year-old man living with his mother in the Uptown neighborhood of early-1960s New Orleans who, in his quest for employment, has various adventures with colorful French Quarter characters.  The Uptown neighborhood is of course St. Henry’s Parish where we live.

REFLECTIONS from Pope Francis

On Following Christ

"Ours is not a joy born of having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person, Jesus, in our midst; it is born from knowing that with him we are never alone, even at difficult moments, even when our life's journey comes up against problems and obstacles that seem insurmountable, and there are so many of them!  And in this moment the enemy, the devil, comes, often disguised as an angel, and slyly speaks his word to us.  Do not listen him!  Let us follow Jesus!"  – Homily, March 24

"Following and accompanying Christ, staying with him, demands 'coming out of ourselves' ... out of a dreary way of living faith that has become a habit, out of the temptation to withdraw into our own plans which end by shutting out God's creative action."  – Audience, March 27

"Christ opened the path to us.  He is like a roped guide climbing a mountain who, on reaching the summit, pulls us up to him and leads us to God.  If we entrust our life to him, if we let ourselves be guided by him, we are certain to be in safe hands, in the hands of our Savior, of our advocate."  – Audience, April 17

 

BLOG 05.11.14