BR. CHARLES' 70TH JUBILEE - CONTINUED

About to cut the cake!

Br. Charles celebrated his 70^th Jubilee with a Vow Renewal Ceremony and Reception on Saturday, May 18^th here at 4219 Constance.  Brs. Charles, Bob and John were joined by Br. Barry Lynch, a Province Councilor, in renewing vows in the presence of the assembly during a brief prayer service.  When he arose to speak Charles mentioned that it took him 50 minutes to cover his material during his 50^th  Jubilee [!], but he was only covering the last twenty so it would be shorter.  He was true to his word—20 minutes, not that we were timing him.  John Petrullo and Travis Wain took charge of the food and even cooked—and their culinary efforts were a hit.  Br. Bob took care of liquid refreshments and Br. John set the tables.  Matt Beben took the pictures accompanying this post.  [The pictures are of the reception—we did renew vows—Br. Lynch is our witness.]

Br. Charles takes care of the mail at Lantern Light and the Presentation Sisters arrived with a lavish hat box with a gift cap that you will see in the pictures.  It was the hit of the party.  Neighbors and friends participated in prayer and song.  Charles requested the “Salve Regina” at the close and due to the presence of Presentation Sisters, Sisters of Charity, Notre Dame Sisters and a Cabrini the singing was superb. 

 

The hat!

Br. Barry Lynch was with us for a few days and had time with Br. Charles at Lantern Light and at home. At the same time as we celebrated Charles, Matt Beben’s dad, Greg, and sister, Maria were our house guests for five days.  They had wonderful weather, found neat antiquarian bookstores their first day in town, and got to a plantation and the Pearl River Swamp tour as well as the Jubilee.  We did explain we did not normally have 50 people over on Saturday afternoon for cake and wine.

 

Br. Barry Lynch, Maria Beben and Greg Beben [Matt's sister and Dad]

In a reality check on Monday, September 20, as the community and our guests sat down to dinner, Travis came in late having been caught in traffic returning from his work on a house on the West Bank.  His casual retelling of a drive-by shooting that day targeting a group gathered next door to where he was sitting, and how he and a companion dove behind a ‘bullet proof’ door of the house they were working on, was met by silent surprise and later conversation with our new visitors to New Orleans.  

On the 21^st, Sr. Monica Gundler joined us for pizza and reflection on our last month together.  With Charles leaving on June 19 and John Petrullo on the 29^th we will not be together again after the 19^th.  With that in mind, Monica gave us questions to ponder before the meeting, and a lively and open conversation engaged everyone.  We hope to schedule one more community outing before Charles and John Petrullo depart and some sort of ritual for closure so we don’t just drift away from what has been a good year indeed.

Bob leaves for his vacation in July, a few days before Charles returns.  Matt and Travis’ end their commitment to this year’s volunteer program at the end of July.

Matt and Travis have been working with volunteers recently; Matt just concluded his tutoring at Boys Hope here in New Orleans so we may see him on Wednesdays now—though his social calendar seems well taken care of.  

Br. Bob is rebuilding the porch on the west side of the building; Br. John is involved with end-of-year programs with the School Leadership Center.  On the 23^rd Br. John met Sr. Dale McDonald, PBVM and Sr. Enid Storey, PBVM for dinner.  Sr. Dale heads up the public policy and governmental relationship desk at the National Catholic Educational Association where Br. John worked and she volunteers a week each year at Lantern Light.  On the 24^th, Br. Bob and Br. John joined Br. Charles, and John Petrullo at Lantern Light to make a monetary donation and help prepare lunches for the homeless guests as a way of marking the birthday of Edmund Ignatius Rice which falls on June 1^st.  

For Memorial Day, Br. Charles went all out: baked sweet potatoes with grilled onion and blue cheese, corn on the cob, and steaks from the grill the volunteers bought this year off ‘Craigs List.’  Of course, there was a bit of confusion about who was to do the grilling, but have no fear, Br. Bob and Travis stepped in and everyone ate too much. 

 

After a mild Winter and Spring, more tropical weather is arriving; it is getting warm!

 Some photos from the Jubilee:

Msgr Doussan in white  shirt, Glen Lirette [green shirt] and Randy Miller [blue shirt] our neighbors --that's Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt in the painting.

Sr. Monica Gundler, SC, Sr. Regina Peterson, MSC and Sr. Enid Storey, PBVM

 

Anthony and Colleen LaRocca with John Petrullo who is trying to get Colleen's recipe for bread pudding

We are serious about cake.  [This was a posed shot.]

Presentations, Notre Dames, and Charities -- no dust on Charles Avendano!

 

Sr. Nancy Hale, CHF and opposite Sr. Pauline O'Reilly CHF in front.  Next to Charles is Sr. Dale McDonald, PBVM.

NOLA IN NEWS FOR SHOOTINGS, AGAIN

 

Once again, New Orleans made the news on Mother’s Day with a shooting that left 19 people with gunshot wounds; three were critically injured.  For 17 years, this “Second Line” parade has been held in that area without incident.  Once again, neighbors and bystanders saw nothing, but said it was probable revenge; those wounded were unfortunate as to time and place.  What is so sad is that this is, it seems, always the same story.  Shootings happen, no one sees anything, the motive is named revenge, and the same section of the community suffers. 

Last week saw heavy rains, and unseasonably cool weather at the start and then some warm sunny days; Travis was up on a roof and has the tan to prove it.   John Petrullo flew home Thursday for Mother’s Day; Matt Beben met his parents and sister for Mother's Day in Washington, DC leaving here Friday evening despite more rain.  Saturday was cool in New Orleans, with occasional drizzle; Br. John and Travis loaded up on cypress mulch for the garden and moved some plants—actually Travis dug and tugged while John pointed and lent encouragement.  Bob is redoing the railings on a side porch. 

John and Matt returned Sunday evening.  We are now getting ready for Charles’ Platinum Jubilee reception on the afternoon of Saturday, May 18^th.  Matt Beben’s dad, Greg, and sister, Maria, join us for a week or so on Wednesday, May 15^th.  I wonder if they know how to mix a Bellini?

A Reflection:  Each morning, as we finish up our fast-paced, crowded breakfast, Br. Charles always wishes us a good day—and adds an upbeat note about the day ahead, or a caution to use sun block, keep dry or cool or whatever.  It seems we are to look forward to the unfolding of our day with some element of anticipation.  So these words by the Irish poet, John O’Donohue seem appropriate as we anticipate his 70^th Jubilee.

Fluent

I would love to live

Like a river flows,

Carried by the surprise

Of its own unfolding.

~ John O'Donohue~

(Conamara Blues)

EDMUND RICE'S FEASTDAY 2013

We kicked off the week with a calendar check on Tuesday evening.  It was more an announcement of travel plans!  Br. Charles leaves on a Jubilee tour June 19^th, returning July 24^th; John Petrullo leaves us on June 29^th and now is planning a year teaching English in Spain; Br. Bob leaves on July 22 returning August 4 and Matt Beben leaves end of July for further ministry with another religious community, overseas.  Travis Wain’s commitment to Helping Hands and Americorps also ends July 31 and he is still exploring possibilities for next year.  Now that he knows what coverage is needed, Br. John is engaged in summer planning too.

The week was unseasonably cool and marked by continued pouring rain—the beginning of the second weekend of Jazz Fest was more like Mud Fest.  However, the skies cleared on Saturday and it was cool, cloudless and beautiful for the last two days.

On Wednesday, May 1, Br. John participated in “Calling All 5^th Graders” for 1,000 students from Archdiocesan schools held at Mt. Carmel Academy.  Br. Herman Johnson OP, Sr. Monica Gundler SC, Sr. Regina Marie Fronmueller OSU, and other friends were there for the event.  While there John met a graduate from Power Memorial Academy, Class of ’62!

On Thursday, the Steering Committee of ‘Burning Bush’, a group of religious seeking ways to support efforts to end violence in the City, met in the Map Room.  Srs. Maura O’Donovan CHF, Kitty Bethea OP, Kathleen Nealon, MSC, Claire Regan, SC and Br. John met with two activist community organizers, Stewart Young and Charles Anderson.  Travis Wain came for the meeting, too.  There will be a group meeting to explore future directions on Monday, May 06, 2013.

On Friday, a day of incredible morning rains, Br. John facilitated a retreat for 40 or so faculty and staff of Holy Rosary Academy and High School.  Held at Holy Angels Center in the Marigny, the congregational center for the Marianites of Holy Cross, it was successful enough that he was invited back to facilitate an opening retreat in early August.  The retreat began at 8 AM and ended at 12:30 PM.  Len Enger, the head of school, took John to lunch at Rocky and Carlo’s, a famous eatery on the waterfront in Chalmette.  If it has not yet been on the Food Channel Show: Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins, it should be.  Very down home, and very good.  Huge portions, noisy room, lots of hustle and bustle.  An experience!

Friday evening, Sr. Nancy Hale CHF and Pauline O’Reilly CHF joined the community for pizza and brought dessert which happily combined ice cream, “Heath Bars”, chocolate and a medicinal shot of Kalua.  The sisters came to set up the Blessed Pauline Room for a Friday meeting and the volunteers were able to do some of the heavy lifting for them. On Saturday, about 30 people attended a morning with the Sisters during which they welcomed new and renewing Associates of the Sisters in the presence of their families. 

On Edmund Rice’s Feastday,  Sunday, May 5^th we all went to St. Gabriel’s in Pontchartrain Park for their Confirmation Mass.  Charles was Eucharistic minister.  That evening Matt was at Jazz Fest, but the rest of us enjoyed a wonderful Mexican dinner that John Petrullo prepared.

We are beginning to get acceptances for Br. Charles Jubilee reception on May 18th.  Following is the second part of his biography which appears on the back of his invitation.

Br. Charles Joachim Avendano [continued]

In 1993, after forty-six years in the classroom, Bro. Charles moved to begin a new ministry.  With great joy he became a California certified Ombudsman and began assisting his fellow seniors in nursing and home care facilities. After nine years he continued this work on behalf of seniors in Phoenix, Arizona. After five years Bro. Charles returned to Seattle where he resumed his Eucharistic Ministry and Ombudsman labors. He also found time to be the Province Health and Welfare Minister to the senior Brothers. Finally in 2009, Charles joined our New Orleans community and began volunteering at Lantern Light, a Presentation Sisters ministry for the homeless.

Over the cupola of the altar in St. James Cathedral is the inscription SERVUS SERVORUM DEI. Whether teaching, moderating student activities, ministering to the sick and homebound, or serving the homeless, the inscription is the motivation that prompts a joyous greeting of a new day and a sharing of God’s many blessing with others. Being open to a new life style of living brotherhood, exploring new forms of prayer styles, enjoying the New Orleans religious community experience, and trying to be a creative cook, keeps Bro. Charles young at heart. How better to use God’s abundant blessings for the good of my fellow brothers and sisters.

 Edmund Rice Christian Brothers New Orleans

"Each Brother is an open letter from Christ-- a message written not with ink but in the Spirit of the living God, with a faithful human heart to carry it."  Blessed Edmund Rice