Edmund in NOLA: JUNE 2014 BEGINS

4 dead, 15 wounded in New Orleans Memorial Day weekend gun violence

“New Orleans' violent Memorial Day weekend continued into the evening Monday (May 26) with police reporting a shooting death in the lower 9^th Ward- bringing the toll since Friday night to 19 shot, four of those fatally.

The latest fatal shooting, reported around 6:15 p.m., was near the intersection of North Johnson and Charbonnet streets. Police said a man was found on the sidewalk, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

About 2 hours earlier, a 17-year-old boy died at the hospital after being shot at the intersection of N. Rocheblave and Eads streets. Melvin Porter, a retired EMT and area resident, said he administered CPR to the victim on the sidewalk until EMS arrived. He said the boy appear to have been shot in the leg, foot and hip.”

So read the headlines as New Orleanians marked the unofficial beginning of summer. Gun violence continues to plague the city even as it makes remarkable progress recovering from racial, economic and social wounds exacerbated by Hurricane Katrina.

During that same weekend, Erika and our guest, Katy O’Donnell safely toured the French Quarter, visited the Lakefront and put in some beach time.

Memorial Day is a holiday in most places; John however had an early morning meeting with Kristin Niedbala who is working with us to seek new volunteers even as we evaluate and adjust our practices in order to better serve the volunteers, the Congregation and the local Church faithful to the Gospel and the commitments we make.

Br. Charles prepared dinner for us on the holiday: steak and corn on the cob were featured. Tuesday Erika did a swamp tour, John was at meetings at UNO with the School Leadership Program, Erika and Charles returned to Lantern Light and Bob returned to a weeks’ worth of work at St. Joseph’s Parish. Erika and Katy made dinner on Tuesday—‘Chicken Pomodoro.’

Wednesday was Ladies Night Out, [my Novice Master never told me about this]. Katy went to Erika’s ministry site for the day, in the evening they checked into a hotel, hit the pool, had dinner at Arnaud’s and went to hear the music at Preservation Hall. John cooked dinner for those ‘left behind’ – Salmon Caesar and Baked Russet Potatoes seasoned with olive oil paprika, cumin, garlic and seasoned salt. These are selfish pleasures; Lauren could not deal with the spices, and neither Lauren nor Erika liked salmon so…when one has the chance…

Delores showing Anna the lovely colour of the gift to help them on their respective journeys!

On the Saturday 31st of May we had a grand time with the Presentation Sisters, two of whom, Sr. Anna and Sr. Delores are returning to New England and Great Britain, respectively. They will be missed at Lantern Light, where Charles and Erika minister. We presented them with medicinals including limes and tonic water for their health--or nerves.

Charles, Enid, Anna, Bob, John, Delores and Vera, Erika in front with our centerpiece including a small portrait of Justin Timberlake reclining on the pillow--it's engraved on Erika's communication device.

As we entered the month of June, on the 5^th, we welcomed the Superior General of the Sisters of Christian Charity, Sr. Maria del Rosario Castro, on her first visit to the United States. Our home was the first house established by Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt in the US in 1873. The Sisters resided here for 100 years it is rather a place of pilgrimage for them.