When the Brothers met in
September to discuss calendar and housekeeping details, Bob suggested we each
plan two or three community outings to enjoy together. He planned our first outing for Sunday,
October 12: to Angola Prison, a two and
a quarter hour ride north of New Orleans.
The prison is near St. Francisville, set in a 20,000 acre farm that
supplies beef, fruits and vegetables to all state prisons. They also breed and raise Percheron draft
horses descended from Belgian imports.
We were going to see the 50th Angola Prison Rodeo. This was certainly a new experience for each
of us.
After running the ethics and
implications of our attendance by a Sister who ministers in the system, the
Brothers decided to go. The prison
describes the purpose and history of the event as follows:
“It is assumed that the Angola
Prison Rodeo was initially established to provide a source of recreation for
the inmate population as well as to provide a source of entertainment for
employees of the Louisiana State Penitentiary and the immediate surrounding
community. Eventually, this was expanded to include spectators from the general
public.
Recognizing
the potential for the growth of this unique event, since the 1995 rodeo season
the Angola Prison Rodeo Committee has strived to provide a professional rodeo
production which would prove beneficial to the internal inmate economy, but
would also be beneficial to the Parish of West Feliciana tourism industry.
Soliciting help and cooperation from the inmate population provided an
important mechanism to protect and improve the quality of the Angola Prison
Rodeo—both economically and environmentally.
At
the conclusion of a hugely successful 2001 rodeo season, the Angola Prison
Rodeo Committee demonstrated its commitment to promote a primary goal of the
Louisiana State Penitentiary—rehabilitation. Accepting the prison’s strategy to
enhance rehabilitative efforts by providing inmates housed at Louisiana State
Penitentiary with an environment that enables positive behavior changes, the
Rodeo Committee voted to dedicate proceeds (after expenses) from the 2001 rodeo
to the construction of an interfaith chapel at Angola’s Camp-D housing unit.
The
objective of the Angola Prison Rodeo remains to provide the prison population
at Louisiana State Penitentiary with an opportunity for positive behavior
changes.
Scope
The
Angola Prison Rodeo Committee is committed to further develop the Angola Prison
Rodeo event, taking into consideration the efficient and responsible use of
resources. Proceeds shall be used to further develop the arena facilities to
provide a safe environment for the inmates and spectators. Any additional rodeo
fund proceeds will be dedicated to the future construction of chapels at
Louisiana State Penitentiary and other Louisiana state prisons. Additional
funds may also be donated to other worthy causes, including the Inmate Welfare
Fund at Louisiana State Penitentiary.”
We arrived at Angola, after a
long, did I say long, drive and went in search of food. After grabbing
something to drink, we waited in hot sun for plates of delicious shrimp pasta
with a lovely broccoli and golden raisin salad and a generous piece of garlic
bread. Lemonade and iced tea kept us
hydrated. Our seats were in the top tier
of a 7,500 seat stadium, shaded by a vast roof, open to a constant cooling
breeze. We said prayers, saluted the
flag, listened to interminable introductions and then were treated to the
professionally produced rodeo. It was
fascinating fun, the crowd roared at appropriate times, and a few unusual acts
appeared, including Capuchin monkeys riding sheep dogs—herding sheep! Bob got us back early enough to enjoy a
dinner outside at “Dat Dog” a unique hot dog restaurant/bar/young adult hang
out. All together it was another unique
Southern experience.
Later that same Sunday evening,
John stayed up to watch a beautifully produced program on Dumfries, a Scottish
mansion at the heart of a 2,000 acres estate, housing a unique collection of
Chippendale furniture designed for the house some 200 years ago. The program focused on the efforts of the
Prince of Wales to train young people in traditional crafts and to make the
estate, now owned by a charitable trust, a resource for the area, an engine for
jobs, tourism, art and craftsmanship.
Both experiences spoke about the values
of the people involved, if you paid attention.
At the rodeo, folks quickly cleared spaces at table when you got your
food and searched for a spot to sit down.
They stood with hands over their hearts during the National Anthem. They cheered all the inmate cowboys.
At Dumfries, young adults spoke
of the Prince’s personal interest [“He speaks to everyone,”] and of their
pleasure in what is now their project.
They were involved and enthusiastic about possibility.
There is much goodness and cause
for gratitude—if we are aware.
On Thursday evening, Adam
Fuselier had returned with his vocation discernment group of high school boys; Fr. Kurt Young, Vocation Director for
the Archdiocese dropped in. It was his
first visit here and served to inform him that there are two “Christian
Brother” orders. He works with the De La
Salle Christian Brothers at Archbishop Rummel High School.
That same evening, Br. Bob
attended a reception given by “City Year” which places a large number of young
people in volunteer programs in New Orleans. He made a few contacts and chatted up Mayor Landrieu!
REFLECTION
“Am I no longer young, and still
not half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what
matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still
and learning to be
astonished.”
From MESSENGER, a poem by Mary
Oliver
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