Christmas Day

On Christmas Eve, along with two of the sisters I am living with, I attended midnight mass (yes! It really was held at midnight, Central Time!) Before the liturgy started, beautiful Christmas Carols were sung in the darkened church while each person held a lit candle. There was an amazingly diverse crowd gathered for mass, including some individuals who are currently homeless. Although I had moments when I longed to be with my family and community, by the time mass ended I knew I had made the right decision to stay. Over the years, Christmas memories from various years begin to blend together, but this Christmas I expect will be remembered distinctly and fondly.

Yesterday, in the convent next door, sisters, friends and neighbors (including the Baptist minister whose home we went to for Thanksgiving dinner) gathered to celebrate Christmas. It was truly an enjoyable event.

By the end of the day my ear was tiered from all of the phone conversations! I am grateful for the technology which allowed me to clearly hear the voices of so many of you who I feel so close to despite the geographic distance. I am even more grateful for the people the technology allowed me to speak with!

Last night was declared a freeze night, so extra shelter space was open to accommodate those who would otherwise be on the street. I went to the shelter to visit a bit with the people who had come in from the cold. Most were so grateful to be out of the cold, even though the shelter was not especially warm and there were not enough cots for everyone.

In case I neglect to thank someone or did not reciprocate, I truly appreciate all of the cards, gifts, and greetings received this Christmas season. Thank you!

Typically, I write an update on Saturday or Sunday, however next weekend I may not. I was invited to go with some of the sisters to a house by a lake for the weekend to celebrate the arrival of a New Year and don't know if there is a computer with internet access there. If not, I'll write soon after my return.

Happy New Year!

Writers, Reality, Gratitude and Christmas Scenes .

Monday morning:
On Monday morning, I was pleasantly surprised when I heard a This I Believe essay by Richard Rohr (probably my favorite spiritual writer), on public radio as I drove to 7:00 mass. That would have been exciting enough but at the liturgy I was quite impressed when Ronald Rolhieser (another excellent spiritual writer) was co-presiding and gave the homily.

I wish this were not someone's reality:
Can you imagine, if you had no place to sleep because all of the emergency shelters in the city were full, so you decide to sleep in an abandoned building only to be arrested during the night for trespassing. If that were not bad enough, what if a brown recluse spider bit you on the head while you were in jail.

Thanks
Thanks to all who have sent cards, gifts and greetings, and for all who hold me and the people of New Orleans in prayer.

Several people have sent me money to use for those who are most in need. I am deeply touched and overwhelmed at how generous so many people are. Thus far the money has been used to buy groceries for someone who recently moved into housing who had an empty refrigerator earlier this week, gift certificates to Walgreens have been given out to all those residing in a particular shelter and to a few other homeless individuals, and a donation has been passed along to another social service agency. I find it difficult to discern how to best distribute the donations because there are so many needs, I am never sure where to start, but am glad to have funds to use as needs arise that are otherwise going unmet. Thank you.

Christmas Decorations in and near the French Quarter

Merry Christmas to all!

A quick update

The work week went by quickly. A couple of the clients I have been working with were able to get into housing programs, fortunately. Unfortunately, the shelters are filled most nights, and the number of people who are homeless seems to be increasing. Someone who did outreach to the homeless before the storm, said that occasionally there were a few people who wanted to get into shelter and could not prior to the storm, usually because their were banned from shelters due to their behavior. Now, there are many people who want to go into shelter nightly who can not because there is no space for them. Some sleep outside on the street right near one particular shelter. This week I either heard or heard of people currently experiencing homelessness, say that at least if they were in prison they would have shelter and three meals. Why aren't basic needs (like food, shelter, and health care) treated as basic human rights and therefore granted automatically to all people in our society?

The weekend was busy. On Saturday, I went with some of the sisters to visit some of the older sisters and celebrate the season with them, which was quite enjoyable. Last night there was Christmas caroling here; people from the neighborhood came. Today, I worked on Christmas gifts, which I hope to mail out soon. This evening a high school band came and played music in the chapel and then served us gumbo for dinner; the music, food and service were all excellent.

I'll try to be more creative on next week's blog.
May you experience JOY during this third week of Advent and always!

The Modern Urban Nativity

Most of us know the Christmas story from Luke's Gospel well. This time of year people frequently decorate churches, yards, living rooms with images representing the night of Jesus birth. Nearly every people of the Christian tradition depict the holy family to be of their race or culture, but almost always like in the gospel story they are in the manager with the animals. It is an image many probably take for granted. It is easy to ignore or romanticize a baby being born outside among the dirt and animals.
Tradition tells us that the inns were full that night.

One recent "freeze night", when I was not working, the two shelters which open up extra space that are at least considered somewhat conducive for families, were both full. When this occurs space is supposed to be located for people, but sometimes things do not happen as they are supposed to. A young couple, the woman several months pregnant, and their very young children spent a frigid night in their car.

Since, it is the Advent season, I was thinking....
If we were to set the Christmas story in modern day urban America, it would likely take place in a car or an abandoned building. Or perhaps if a woman was about to give birth, they would most likely go to a hospital, which would put them in debt for a very long time if they happen to be among the growing number who lack health insurance. If they arrived at one of the few hospitals that have reopened since the hurricane in New Orleans they would surely encounter crowded conditions and challenges that go along with short staffed health care facilities.
We have been telling the Christmas story for 2000 years, and although we have space for nativity scenes made of wood, paper, and clay, I suspect that if pregnant Mary came into many cities in urban America today, like the inns 2000 years ago she may be turned away.


Yesterday, I enjoyed being united in prayer with all the sisters in my province. I even was able to participate in small group sharing via speaker phone. Although I am far away, I truly feel connected and supported and am grateful.

Someone mentioned that some winters there are only about five nights when the temperature goes below 38 and the city declares a freeze night opening extra shelter space. This year we have already far exceeded that number. It has been unusually cold for New Orleans this time of year. Fortunately, there are American Red Cross volunteers helping with the freeze nights now, so it does not fall on the department where I work to staff them. It is also fortunate that my community in Philadelphia mailed me some of my winter clothes Thank you!

Lake Pontchartrain

Last weekend I discovered the lake; well not in the way we say Columbus discovered American or anything quite that dramatic, and previously I knew it was there, in fact I had even ridden over the lake via the longest bridge a few weeks before; but, last weekend I not only figured out how to get myself to the lake, I found a place to walk that is peaceful yet populated enough to be safe.

The lake is so large, you can't always see across it. The water is brackish; I could clearly detect the faint scent of the salty sea. There were seagulls, cormorants and little sand pipers, all of which are so familiar. It reminded me of home! Yet, it was neither Narragansett beach nor bay, nor was it near Cape May. In the midst of the familiar water fowl were peculiar pelicans and strangely beautiful black ducks, reminding me that I am some place new.

The lake handed me a concrete symbol of what New Orleans has been like for me. It has in many ways felt familiar, comfortable and like home; but in just as many ways it is different, new and intriguing. It is the brackish water containing the elements of the salty sea, mingled with what is fresh and new to me.
One side of the road is closed near the lake making it a one way since the Hurricane.

It has already been pointed out to me, that I am updating this a day later than usual. Friday night was a "freeze night." I did not get any sleep at St. Jude shelter because about 30 people came in for the night from the streets. Had I attempted to do this yesterday, there would probably be even more typos and careless errors due to sleep deprivation. Which reminds me, if you notice serious mistakes on my blog, feel free to inform me so I can edit them. I always proof read before I post but sometimes when I reread them weeks later I notice glaring errors.

Last night and tonight were declared freeze nights as well; fortunately more people are able to help with freeze nights, so I did not have to stay. I enjoy staying with the people and find it an opportunity to get to know the people we are trying to assist. I do appreciate not having to do all of them because it takes me a couple of days to recover completely.

Friday night, a gentleman was picked up by the outreach van and brought to St. Jude community center with those experiencing homelessness. It was pretty obvious to me, that he had Alzheimer's or a similar form of dementia. After several attempts and questions, we were able to get the first and last name of his sister in another state; with his permission we were able to obtain her phone number from 411, and she provided phone numbers of his children in New Orleans, who had been quite concerned about him since he had wandered away from home hours earlier. They happily came to get him.

Thanks to all who sent cards and greetings to me recently! It was great to hear from you.

Happy first Sunday of Advent!

SAINTS

The Saints
On the last Sunday of October, at the end of liturgy everyone started singing, When the Saints Go Marching In. For about a second and a half I thought it had to do with a fast approaching holy day, then I realized that the parishioners could not possibly be that excited about All Saints Day!

This city truly loves their football team.

Last week, I received a phone call from one of the Marianites while I was at work. She invited me to go with her and another sister to a Saints game. I did tell her that if anyone is really really into it, that she could give that person the ticket instead, because although I think it would be fun, and I would enjoy it, I am not a big fan of the game and recognize that others are likely to want it a lot more than I do. She said someone else could go another time, and I that should go since I have never been to a professional football game.

Apparently, every time there is a home game on a Sunday, the owner of the team has a priest come to preside over mass prior to the game in a private suite located in the Superdome. The sister who invited me, knows the owner, so we attended mass, where we were also given passes which allowed us to go onto the field just before the game started, while many of the players were warming up. The whole experience seemed somewhat surreal. It was really exciting to be there. The marching band which played before the game and at half time was also very impressive. Caught up in the excitement of the game, I enthusiastically cheered for the Saints (although not quite as enthusiastically as some others.) They lost, but I had a great time anyway. The Sister who had invited me, said it was embarrassing to bring a visitor to a game when they did so poorly. I could not possibly have had more fun even if they had won.
(This is a not so great picture is of the very impressive marching band.)


Saint Jude's
This past week I spent a lot of time at St. Jude's. St. Jude Community Center, which is across from the parish church we typically attend, became a shelter after Katrina because there was such a need for emergency shelter. The second floor is home to about 17 women at any given time; I began doing some case management/counseling with some of the residents this week. The first floor is a large multipurpose room, which now serve as a "freeze night" shelter, which means when the temperature is predicted to drop below 38 degrees people who reside on the street can come in at night and stay until morning. There are a few other shelters in the city which will also open extra space on those cold nights, however most of them do not have sufficient staff to be able to accommodate the extra people. Everyone in my department at Unity, was asked to stay at one such shelter so that they could open on freeze nights. On Monday and Tuesday, it got cold (especially for New Orleans.) A coworker and I stayed at St. Jude along with (13 on Monday, 20 on Tuesday) people experiencing homelessness. On Thanksgiving day, I was back at St. Jude, this time at noon, to assist with serving a meal.

Being at St. Jude has given me an opportunity to hear people's stories, to sit with them, to learn from them, and has left me feeling enriched. Early one morning after a freeze night, I said Good morning to an older gentlemen who has been homeless for many years; he smiled a big bright smile even though he has fewer than half of his teeth, and said to me, "aren't we are so blessed to be alive for another day!"

Thanksgiving day
After serving the meal at St. Jude, I went with two other sisters to the home of a Baptist Minister who lives in our neighborhood, for another Thanksgiving meal. He had met some of the sisters at a Katrina Memorial and told his grown children about them and they suggested that he invite the sisters to his house for Thanksgiving. He is the pastor of a small racial and ethically diverse congregation. He has several children and many grandchildren all those we met were kind and hospitable. It was truly a delightful experience.

When I arrived back at the convent I made phone calls until it was too late to call people. If you are among the community members, close family and good friends and I did not get a chance to speak with you, know that you were in my thoughts and prayers anyway. I enjoyed hearing from so many of you. I missed being with family and/or my community, but had a strong feeling that I am where I need to be at this moment, which has eased my mild homesickness.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Dinners
Already I have have participated in three Thanksgiving feasts. The first was on Wednesday evening when the sisters I am living with had our local community dinner. The following night was a neighborhood potluck held on the property here for people who live in the Bywater neighborhood. Yesterday, at work we had a Thanksgiving potluck as well. The carrots and parsnips I made (Nana Nealon style) were at least as unusual a dish to most New Orleaneans as Oyster Dressing was to me.

At the neighborhood feast, people were asked to call to mind where they were last Thanksgiving; virtually everyone was displaced at that time. We were reminded of how the first thanksgiving was celebrated after a very hard and trying year, and was a celebration of unity among peoples. People of the neighborhood gathered in circumstances and with a spirit not unlike those who gathered for the first Thanksgiving. Those who have lost much seem so appreciative of what they have. I am thankful to be able to learn gratitude from them.

Categories of homelessness in New Orleans
Several categories of homelessness were mentioned at a meeting and press conference I attended with others from my office this week. There are the chronically homeless, many of whom were living on the streets of New Orleans prior to Katrina and are still homeless. There are the migrant workers; many people have come into the city in search of work; many have found work doing construction, they are actively rebuilding the city, but due to the reality that rent has at least doubled (quadrupled in some neighborhoods) they are not able to find affordable housing so sleep on the streets, in shelters, or make their home in the very many severely damaged abandoned houses. The migrant workers included both immigrants from Mexico and other countries as well as many citizens from other states. There are New Orleans natives who were not homeless before the storm but have been unable to afford the rising rent, or fix up the house that they own and therefore find themselves homeless. Some people are staying with relatives and friends; they are sometimes more than "doubled up"; that is now there may be three or four families in a house, or people are "doubled up" in FEMA trailers (which by most people's standards would be too small for one family); of course I must mention that these people are not truly homeless if you use HUD's definition of homeless, regardless of how tight the space! There are also those who are displaced, still living in other cities, perhaps with family and friends, who really want to come home to New Orleans but have no home to come to. There is a fear that they problem will worsen especially in February when FEMA rental assistance is supposed to cease for most.

This coming week I am also going to start doing some counseling/case management at a shelter located in the community center of the parish church. This shelter, which houses 17 single women was opened following Katrina because there was great need for it. The largest pre-Katrina shelters in the city have yet to reopen. I am looking forward to this.

Opelousas
Today the Marianite Sisters celebrated 150 years of service in education and health care in the town of Opelousas, Louisiana. 150 years ago the sisters took a long boat ride up the bayou from New Orleans to start ministering in that town. High school students dressed in the habit that the sisters use to wear and reenacted the arrival. It was followed by a prayer service and lunch. A couple of the older sisters said to me, "now you know what we used to look like!" It was a very pleasant day indeed. I was grateful to hear their stories. It is amazing what courageous work women religious did long ago in such difficult circumstances without the conveniences we now take for granted.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Since I have arrived in New Orleans, I have been filled with a sense of gratitude for the people I have met, the experiences I am having. In that way I feel the spirit of the holiday, aware that I really have so much to be thankful for. In other real though less important ways, it does not really feel like Thanksgiving, because the green leaves still cling to the trees and the mosquitoes are still biting. Whether the weather feels like thanksgiving, giving thanks is always in season.

I thank God for all of my family, community and friends. Happy Thanksgiving.

Love, Kathleen

Thank you!

Those who stayed.

This past week, spontaneously, on a few occasions people at work shared their Katrina stories with me. Where they were, where they went, what they did, what was lost, when they returned, what they found, learned and what they discovered about themselves and about life. It is a privilege to hear such stories.

I am especially impressed with the people who stayed because of work obligations or with the intentions of helping others. There were two people whose stories of staying to help others that touched me very deeply. These stories made me think of the gospel stories of the women who stayed during the crucifixion. While reflecting upon these stories, I wrote the following:
First hand, I hear their stories,
those who stayed,
who helped while feeling utterly helpless,
who watched and prayed,
who felt the pain as death surrounded them
and utter darkness came.
Whose hearts tightly clenched a tiny crumb of hope,
when all else had been devoured, destroyed.
Wading, neck deep in rising pain, while the debris of fallen structures floated and sank
in the pits of empty stomaches.
They stayed the unpaved course that had no maps, no signs nor signal lights.
They stayed through the crucifixion,
and returned in early dawn to the empty tomb,
awaiting, anticipating, participating in resserection.

Last night, I had the opportunity to do outreach with a few coworkers, including a man who does outreach to the homeless for the police department. We were able to get several men into shelter who may have faced arrest later that night had they stayed near a particular building in the city which has increased security. The men all had different stories. Some had come here from other parts of the country seeking work, and are doing construction during the day. All were pleasant, cooperative and grateful. I am finding that I really enjoy doing outreach to the homeless. The people I have met on the streets of New Orleans all have been interesting people, with stories, gifts, talents, hopes and dreams.

On days when work is hard (which has very little to do with the people we serve and a lot to do with frustrating bureaucracies and a lack of resources), I am so grateful that I really enjoy the sisters that I am staying with. The emails, letters and phone calls, and prayers from everyone at home are also wonderful gifts. I feel so supported and am very appreciative. The other day I was thinking about the fact that I have at least three places now, that I commonly refer to as home, all of which are much more than adequately inhabitable, which I take for granted less and less as I encounter more and more people without even one halfway inhabitable place to call home.

Ministry, Mirlitons & Muffalatas

Ministry
This week, I was assigned a couple of clients in need of housing who I will provide case management for and hopefully help to find housing. There certainly seems to be a lack of resources at least that are easily accessible for people. I have felt at least a little productive when doing presentations at our morning staff meetings about outreach to the homeless on the street based on a curriculum I found on line and on basic social work skills. I also, went out on the van a few times this week to do outreach to those on the street.

Being here, has given me an appreciation for the shelter system and services we have in Philadelphia. Several people told me that they heard that Philadelphia is one of the model cities in serving chronically homeless. At first, I responded with skepticism ready to complain about the system, aware that there are still many homeless people in Philadelphia, the lack of affordable housing, and the complaints I heard from clients in emergency shelters. Now, after working in New Orleans for two weeks, and especially the other day when I could not locate a shelter that had space for a single woman, I wish that the City of New Orleans would have an office like Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Shelter and Services where I could always refer people to for emergency shelter knowing it would be provided that very night if they needed it. It is interesting how being away gives me a different perspective and increases my appreciation for services I once took for granted, and assumed every city had.


Mirlitons & Muffalatas
Whether while riding in the van in between clients, at a monthly staff meeting held at the programs' main office, or with the sisters, conversations in New Orleans frequently seems to be about food. When, I shared this perception with the sisters; I was told that food is an important part of New Orleans culture and that people here really do talk about food, a lot.

One day I noticed something sitting in a dish on the kitchen counter.
I asked, "is that at pear?"
"No; it is not a pear," replied the sister in charge of cooking, with a smile.
"Is it some type of avocado?" My next best guess!
"It's not an avocado. It's a mirliton." The first "i" is pronounced more like a short "e" and the "r" is silent. {There is a surprising yet striking commonality between the languages spoken in New Orleans and Rhode Island having to do with ignoring the letter r, especially in the middle or end of a word.} Of all of the novel foods I have tired in New Orleans, I think the mirliton is my favorite; and probably the healthiest as well. I'm not sure if it is considered a fruit or a vegetable, but I was told that it grows on a vine.
Today I attended the 2006 Mirliton Festival which is held only a few blocks from here. The festival really gave me a taste of the culture of the neighborhood, which consists of many talented artists and musicians. There was no festival last year; Katrina canceled it. Just as the storm has an impact on the neighborhood some of the crafts being sold and the bands playing were obviously influenced by the hurricane. It was wonderful to see so many people really enjoying themselves and having such a great time.

The other day, one of the sisters suggested I try a muffalata insisting they were very good. She tried to entice me, by telling me that it is a sandwich which has everything on it except the kitchen sink; although I did not find that description particularly appetizing I took one graciously. It was on a round roll but contained ingredients similar to a Rhode Island grinder or a Philadelphia hoagie as well as several green olives. It was edible, but not really worth writing home about; although I suppose that is what I am doing right now.

I attribute the reality that much of this blog entry is food focused to the influence of the culture of New Orleans.

I think I may have fixed the comment options; a few people mentioned that they tired to post a comment that never went through. Please let me know if it continues. Thanks.

Take care. Greetings from the sisters here to the sisters there.

spray paint on houses. Walking by the River. Pumpkins, Pancakes, & Prayers.

Spray Paint
After the storm the National Guard went to all of the houses to search for people, bodies, and pets. Most houses still have spray paint on them indicating the date the house was searched, the group that was there, and what they found.

Sometimes there are messages which people spray painted onto their own homes.












River
When I heard that the place I would be living was only 5 blocks from the Mississippi River, I imagined a warm weekend afternoon walking along by the water (a favorite pass time of mine, as most of you probably know.) It is possible to walk along the street that parallels the river in this neighborhood; you just can't see the river. I am used to walls being by water; after all, the coolest place to hang out when I was a teenager in Narragansett, was by the sea wall in "the Pier." They don't call this a Sea Wall because it is by the river not the sea, but perhaps they could call it a see wall, since you see the wall instead of the water (I know it is a bad joke, but I could not resist.)

If I understand correctly, the wall is there to block water in case of flooding however, in actuality those who lived closest to the Mississippi had less flooding during Katrina than those who lived further away because the land tends to slope upward close to the river; it was not the river itself that caused the flooding in the city, but the levies of smaller canals that broke.


Pumpkins, Pancakes & Prayers
Sisters and all who worked at the pancake breakfast today,
I was thinking of all of you. Although for obvious reasons I was not able to volunteer at the pancake breakfast today, I did help with a fund raiser last night. I helped one of the sisters here sell pumpkins which had been painted beautifully by high school students, to benefit a transitional housing program. I hope that you sold more pancakes that I sold pumpkins!

Everyone,
Please keep my (paternal) grandfather in your prayers.

Take care. Many Blessings!
Love, Kathleen

Ministry and other quick updates

I started ministry this week. In reality, since I am in orientation, I watched what my coworkers were doing. People come into the office seeking assistance with housing. The agency I am working with is trying to focus on assisting those individuals who are chronically homeless. The primary funding source which we have a good chance of accessing may help with security deposits and rent money, for those who can prove that they were homeless (according to HUD's definition) prior to Katrina. The stories and tragic; people are often amazingly resilient.
Today I had the opportunity to ride in the van with workers doing outreach to those who are living on the street. It was very interesting. I am hopeful that the agency I am working with will be able to provide some assistance and support to those currently living on the streets of New Orleans.
Whether in community, with coworkers, or others, most conversations even if they are about something that on the surface seems unrelated, the hurricane comes up. One event truly changed everything for so many. It has affected every aspect of the lives of individuals, and of the region as a whole.

On Tuesday Ellen left. It was truly a gift to have her here during my first few days. The sisters here look forward to her next visit; I do too!

Last night all of the sisters in the area were invited to a gathering, because the sisters from the Texas area who are involved with LCWR (Leadership Conference for Women Religious) were in the area and invited everyone. I was fortunate to attend. It gave me a chance to meet some of the sisters in the greater New Orleans area as well as those visiting.

I am so grateful for this experience, all of the experiences that go along with it, all of the stories I have heard, and all of the people I have met.
All is well with me. I hope all is well with you.
Many Blessings!
-Kathleen

Greetings from New Orleans!

Ellen and I arrived yesterday evening. We were greeted by 2 sisters at the airport. Dinner was waiting for us when we arrived at the convent that will be my home for the next several months. The sisters are very welcoming and hospitable.

There are ten sisters in St. Joseph Covent; I will make 11. The convent was an assisted living building prior to the hurricane, where retired Marinaite Sisters of the Holy Cross lived. After the hurricane only two retired sisters returned. The Marinite Sisters closed three of their small houses because they were so badly damaged from the hurricane. Most of the sisters living here now moved in when those houses were closed. This building had a lot of damage to the first floor, some of which has been renovated, some of which has not.

Today one of the sisters took Ellen and I on a tour. Our first tour was of the buildings on the property here. There is another convent, Holy Angels, which is attached to St. Joseph Convent and houses about seven sisters. There is a building which was once a school, but several years ago was renovated into low income housing apartments for the elderly. There are several large meeting spaces, which neighborhood groups and schools use for gatherings. Much of the property suffered water damage on the first floors during the hurricane.

Our next tour was of area neighborhoods. The neighborhood we live in is called Bywater, because it is by the water (the Mississippi river is only about five blocks away.) We also went into the nearby infamous 9th ward, where the devastation was worse and former residents were typically working class or poor prior to the hurricane. Few have returned to that area. The pictures I include in this post show you why. It is one thing to see these sights on television, to hear them described on public radio, or see pictures in the newspaper, but to actually look at places people once called home, that are now falling to pieces is an experience I can not describe.
These are 3 pictures taken today in the Lower 9th Ward. There are great signs of hope as well, as we see rebuilding and hear stories of heroism, sacrifice and groups working together to rebuild.

After having lunch in a little local place, we got a tour of other parts of the city including the French Quarter and Uptown, which had less damage from the hurricane. We had coffee and little fried dough at a famous place (unfortunately I forget the special name of the doughnuts and the French name of the famous place we ate them; I am on information overload, just trying to remember the names of all of the sisters I've met in the last 24 hours.)

This is a picture of the river taken from the French Quarter area. I thought you might want to see something pleasant after viewing the previous photos.


Everyone at home in Philadelphia and Rhode Island, I am thinking of you and hope all is well. (I am fortunate to have so many places I call home and I think I may have found another!) Take care.
Love, Kathleen

Farewell

Special thanks to all who made my farewell so special last night! It was great to be with you. Thanks for the food, the prayer, the time together, the support and encouragment. The dvd we watched of sisters' stories from New Orleans was very powerful.

I am truly blessed to be a part of a great community and to have good friends. I take you all with me in my heart.

Community

Last night, while reflecting upon the day and anticipating my fast approaching departure, I became more aware of the true situation:
My going to New Orleans is not about me going to New Orleans. The community, the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer of which I am a member, is responding to a need in the larger global community to which we all are members (along with every other person, plant, animal and element.)

If you, as a member of the larger global community, who happens to read this blog at any time going forward, notice from my writing that I am loosing this perspective, please do me a favor and post a comment to remind me.
Thanks.
-Kathleen

The Autum Tree

Today was my last day at work; yesterday was my last day at my other job. I am grateful to all the clients, and coworkers who have taught me much, and enriched my life. I will miss you.

It is interesting how preparing to go away has motivated me to do things I believe are important but tend to put off, like doctors appointments, calling friends, cleaning, and even things that are not particularly important but probably should be done anyway like trying to organize the piles of papers I hide in the corners or my bedroom (well, at least I took them out of hiding so that I'm more likely to deal with them.)

It doesn't quite seem real yet, that in less than a week, I will be in New Orleans. As it gets colder here, I remind myself that next week I will be experiencing warmer weather. My turtlenecks and sweaters come out of hibernation for only one wearing, and a wash. I breathe in the fall air with greater awareness and appreciation as I anticipate more subtle seasonal changes in the weather, and major changes in many aspects of my life.
As I appreciate autumn, I find myself identifying with the trees.


The trees begin to show their colors, prepare to release their leaves;
slowly the branches become visible, vulnerable.
The accomplishments of previous seasons, fall to the ground,
like all leaves ever released they decay becoming the soil,
nourishing the roots, giving life.

Endings have begun,
Slowly I release roles, relationships, and allow the familiar to fade,
all that I let go of, invites me to vulnerability,
all that I let go of nourishes and sustains me.
Nothing really dies;
all is transformed.


Well, my piles of paper are calling, and the clock is ticking away.

I have a date

There is a plan. On October 19th I will be leaving for New Orleans. Sr. Ellen is going to fly down with me and stay for a couple of days. I spoke to one of the sisters down there today who sounded very welcoming. The plans are moving along!

I type this from my parents' home in Rhode Island over looking Narragansett Bay. It is a gift to have this long weekend, to spend time with my family before leaving for New Orleans. A month from now I will be far from Rhode Island, where I have lived most of my life, and from Philadelphia where I have lived for the past ten years. I know that I bring support from so many people with me, which makes it easier to go.

Well, I have been experimenting with this blog for a while now. It seems to be working but sometimes when I go to the page only the first entry comes up and I don't understand why. I think that I am finally ready to start giving out the blog address to anyone who is requesting that I keep in touch, or who might be interested in these occasional updates.

Unity of Greater New Orleans

The plan at this point is for me to work with the Unity of Greater New Orleans program, which is a housing first program that serves those who are homeless in New Orleans and a nearby county. In some ways it is similar to the work I have done at Drueding Center Project Rainbow, the transitional housing facility for homeless women with children where I am currently working in Philadelphia. In other ways it will be a completely new experience. I am hoping to leave the week of the 16th of October or at the latest the following week.

To get ready to go I have made myself doctor and dentist appointments, and have started sorting through my endless piles of papers which seem to accumulate so quickly. Next weekend I will go to Rhode Island to spend time with my family, since it is likely to be quite a while before I get up there again.

Many unknowns

There are still many unknowns, but Sr. Anne Marie spoke with a sister in New Orleans earlier this week and it seems that they are open to having me and that there is a ministry for me to work in which serves people of the Ninth Ward. I still do not know when I am leaving or any specific details. I think I am being invited to trust that things will work out; I don't really need to know all of the details right now. Even when we think we know when or how something will happen it does not necessarily happen that way. Two weeks ago I had not really even though that I would be offered the opportunity to go to New Orleans to work with hurricane survivors.

Invitation

Last week after feeling a little frustrated that I still had not found employment, a sense of peace came over my while praying. Something will work out. I stood with open hands.

When I met with Sr. Anne Marie, I had not expected this invitation. She asked if I would be willing to go New Orleans. Immediately I said yes. A year after Katrina so many people are still in dire need.

I still don't know when I will go, though I assume it will be relatively soon. I am not sure where I will go, except that I will most likely stay with another religious community.

Always I have thought, as religious we need to go where we are most needed. We are called to be with those who are most poor and who suffer greatly. I have thought that sometimes this may mean being away from the rest of the community, for the sake of the larger community, which includes every person and all of creation. Now I have the challenge of actually embracing and of doing my best to live what I believe.

Pray for me. Pray that I will find a community to stay with and minister with where I can somehow be helpful to hurricane victims and those who are experiencing poverty in New Orleans.