Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit New Orleans. A friend was making final vows as a Sister of St. Joseph; the liturgy was beautiful. It was wonderful to be back. I stopped by UNITY; they are all still very busy doing outreach to those still experiencing homelessness in New Orleans. I spent time with many of the Marianites, and stayed in the house( actually the same bedroom) where I had lived. It was truly a gift to be there to spend time with friends and see the city.
On Sunday I was asked if I would go with a few of the Marianites to put together packets for the LCWR (Leadership Council for Women Religious) gathering which is being held in New Orleans this year. Interestingly, it was at the LCWR conference three years ago, when sisters from New Orelans shared about their experiences one year after Katrina, when Anne Marie my provincial, got the idea of asking me if I would be willing to volunteer there. Certainly when I think of that I can see that the hand of God has been at work throughout my experiences of the past three years.
Today I came across statistics which indicate Louisiana to be one of the worst states in terms of children's homelessness. Such statistics urge me to want to return to New Orleans where the needs are still so great. Of course there are other reasons I sometimes desire to return as well, although some of them are harder to name. For whatever reason, probably a variety of reasons I felt like when I was there I was somehow at my best.
I am once again filled with gratitude for the experience I had while living in New Orleans, for the recent visit, for friendships formed there, and for the many people like those at UNITY who continue to do such good work.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday, February 29, 2008
resume writing
Obviously I've been neglecting this blog for quite a while. It is not that there hasn't been anything interesting or exciting to share. There is not a whole lot of time to sit and write these days. When I do have free time contributing to this blog, competes with going for a walk, calling family or friends on the phone, reading, email and chatting over a cup of tea with community.
Part of the problem is, I sometimes don't feel like time is free as long as the piles of paper in my room are growing, the hamper is overflowing, and the tasks I committed to at the last liturgy or social justice committee remain incomplete (or unstarted, which is currently the case.) Reality is all of those tasks will never been completely completed. The concept of free time is rather strange when I really think about it. Its not as though I have to pay for the rest of my time; it is not as though I am actually forced to do the things I think I have to do. I have to force myself to make time to do what nourishes and sustain me even if that means neglecting the multiplying piles of papers that set up camp in my bedroom. If I neglect that papers long enough, they will not go away on their own but they may grow obsolete.
Tonight after work, one of the lay-volunteers who I live and work with and I went to the big public library in center city to see Anne Lommott, a favorite writer of mine (thanks to my Auntie Donna). We did not actually get to see her; although we were 20 minutes early, the auditorium was already full, so we watched her speak via a large television in the library foyer which she referred to as the overflow room. She reminded me how much I enjoy writing. I came home feeling energized. Craving creative activity, I thought why not resume my blog tonight?
I can't promise that I'll write consistently, on second thought, maybe I should as I would be much more likely to do so, if I promise someone else that I will. Of course, since I have not written consistently, my few faithful readers, like my maternal grandmother, have probably given up on reading, so I probably would not really be promising anything to anyone, except perhaps myself. That is not a bad idea, to promise myself time to write, even as the paper piles are reproducing, and the to do list stretches, I will write. I will write as long as it is enjoyable and feels nurturing. I will stop when it seems stressful or become just another activity to feel guilty for not completing (or not starting.)
Part of the problem is, I sometimes don't feel like time is free as long as the piles of paper in my room are growing, the hamper is overflowing, and the tasks I committed to at the last liturgy or social justice committee remain incomplete (or unstarted, which is currently the case.) Reality is all of those tasks will never been completely completed. The concept of free time is rather strange when I really think about it. Its not as though I have to pay for the rest of my time; it is not as though I am actually forced to do the things I think I have to do. I have to force myself to make time to do what nourishes and sustain me even if that means neglecting the multiplying piles of papers that set up camp in my bedroom. If I neglect that papers long enough, they will not go away on their own but they may grow obsolete.
Tonight after work, one of the lay-volunteers who I live and work with and I went to the big public library in center city to see Anne Lommott, a favorite writer of mine (thanks to my Auntie Donna). We did not actually get to see her; although we were 20 minutes early, the auditorium was already full, so we watched her speak via a large television in the library foyer which she referred to as the overflow room. She reminded me how much I enjoy writing. I came home feeling energized. Craving creative activity, I thought why not resume my blog tonight?
I can't promise that I'll write consistently, on second thought, maybe I should as I would be much more likely to do so, if I promise someone else that I will. Of course, since I have not written consistently, my few faithful readers, like my maternal grandmother, have probably given up on reading, so I probably would not really be promising anything to anyone, except perhaps myself. That is not a bad idea, to promise myself time to write, even as the paper piles are reproducing, and the to do list stretches, I will write. I will write as long as it is enjoyable and feels nurturing. I will stop when it seems stressful or become just another activity to feel guilty for not completing (or not starting.)
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Ordination
On Wednesday (yes Halloween, because it was the vigil for All Saints Day) a friend who was in my inter-community novitiate (Insearch) program was ordained a priest (he had been in a congregation of priests at that time, but left and entered a diocesan seminary.) A sister from another community who was also in our class, picked me up at work and together we journey all the way to a parish church in a small town in northern New Jersey arriving a couple of minutes late.
Peter will make a great priest because of his outgoing personality and kind spirit. It was great to be present at this special event and to connect with other friends from Insearch who were also present. After liturgy, we reminisced about a Halloween party we all attended on that very night seven years earlier. While waiting in what I thought was a receiving line, we talked excitedly as we don't get together that often. We were "shushed," by two priests wearing cassocks and passing out holy cards, because apparently we were making too much noise. I had never been to ordination before so the concept of "first blessing" was foreign to me. I really just wanted to give Peter a hug and congratulate him a. I was directed to kneel on a kneeler while he prayed over me. It amazes me that I remain ignorant of many formal church traditions even after being in religious life this long.
We did not get back to Philly until midnight, but it was well worth it!
Peter will make a great priest because of his outgoing personality and kind spirit. It was great to be present at this special event and to connect with other friends from Insearch who were also present. After liturgy, we reminisced about a Halloween party we all attended on that very night seven years earlier. While waiting in what I thought was a receiving line, we talked excitedly as we don't get together that often. We were "shushed," by two priests wearing cassocks and passing out holy cards, because apparently we were making too much noise. I had never been to ordination before so the concept of "first blessing" was foreign to me. I really just wanted to give Peter a hug and congratulate him a. I was directed to kneel on a kneeler while he prayed over me. It amazes me that I remain ignorant of many formal church traditions even after being in religious life this long.
We did not get back to Philly until midnight, but it was well worth it!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
New Chapter
Starting this new blog is hopefully like staring a new chapter. There are situations, ideas, events that occur every week no matter where I am that are worth writing about. Since my previous blog focused on my time in New Orleans, which ended 5 months ago, it is time to start something new focusing on my time in the places I find myself everyday.
While I was in New Orleans, away from my community, I blogged regularly as a means of keeping people updated on the situations I was encountering. Writing regularly helped me to see the significance in experiences and events and to make sense of them at least enough to be able to share them with others. While it is unlikely that many will read this (few read my other blog while I was away, with the exception of my family, especially my grandmother and a few friends) it is a good exercise for me. If anyone happens to read it enjoy!, and feel free to leave a comment.
Thanks.
-Kathleen
While I was in New Orleans, away from my community, I blogged regularly as a means of keeping people updated on the situations I was encountering. Writing regularly helped me to see the significance in experiences and events and to make sense of them at least enough to be able to share them with others. While it is unlikely that many will read this (few read my other blog while I was away, with the exception of my family, especially my grandmother and a few friends) it is a good exercise for me. If anyone happens to read it enjoy!, and feel free to leave a comment.
Thanks.
-Kathleen
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