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!