The Start of A New Year

So I guess it has been a while since my last entry and tonight turned out to be a pretty laid back evening. So, to the advisement of one brilliant individual I've decided to update my blog of the comings and goings of this year so far.

The new year began with a trip to Philadelphia to reconvene with my fellow AVs and embark on our journey to OCNJ for our mid-year retreat. I arrived at the AV office and much to my suprise ran into Charlie, Lauren, Mike, and Erika who I believed were already down the Shore. Once we got all of the cars and vans packed up we began the two hour journey (sing along) to Ocean City.

Lauren, Mike, and I at dinner on the last night of Mid-year

The four day retreat was full of reflection, informative discussion, and great fun with extraordinary friends. This week allowed me a chance to enjoy running on the boardwalk in the winter, which believe it or not I have never spent time at the beach in the winter, and rejuvinate my psyche before beginning the last six months of my time as an Augustinian Volunteer.

Charlie and I had a chance to stop by the Jersey Shore

house on our way back to LaVegas

Once we arrived back on site in Lawrence we got into the swing of things right away. Getting back to work with my students felt refreshing, though I was missing my friends and family, and I was excited to see what they had been up to over their break. All of my community members and I were excited to get back into Boston and enjoy our nights out as usual.

So far in the new year there haven't been too many adventures to report, though I'm certain they are sure to come.

Our hearts are burning for you!

My next entry should be coming VERY soon, due to the exciting weekend quickly approaching!!

The Feast of the Three Kings

At the Blessed Stephen Bellesini Academy the feast of the 3 kings is a HUGE deal. It is the day in which we give thanks for the gifts that were bestowed upon Jesus at the Nativity by the three kings. In turn it is the day that our students receive gifts from an array of donors, churches, charities, etc... I had heard of the event, but couldn't fathom the impact it has on the lives and attitudes of our students.

It all began today at 3:00pm when all of the students were paraded to our all-purpose room in the trailer adjacent to the school. The students came in grade by grade and were completely quiet, which for them is a feat in itself. They sat around the room in giant circle and, when all were settled, a select group of 7th graders read the story of the three kings journey to see the Child Jesus.

Once they had their afternoon prayer, we made rain with the students as many of my readers might have done on retreats at one point of their lives. If not I'll describe how it goes: our principle stood in the center of the circle and picked a student to begin with. She first points to them and starts rubbing her hands together quickly, as this passes around the room it begins to sound like a light summer drizzle. During the next rotation everyone begins to snap their fingers lightly, and with the acoustics of this room it truly sounded like little rain drops on a tin roof. The next task is that one by one, each student claps, followed by the stomping feet of a late summer thunder storm. It was quite a relaxing sound for the brief moments of which it took place.

Once order was restored class by class the teachers and staff began to present each student with the gifts that were purchased for them. I haven't seen so many different reactions in a long time. There was the joy of a basketball, the ecstatic times when a student gets a hat that they will never take off (see above), and the relief of a good winter coat. Each student received items that they will use on a daily basis, and the occasional treat that will make for some fun nights with friends.

The sheer joy on the faces of these young men, who in some instances have already taken on more responsibility than many college grads I know, is enchanting. This has been a day that I will never forget and one I will forever cherish.

O Lord, only you know what I am. Even though Paul said, "No man knows what he is in himself except through his own spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:11), there is much that my spirit does not know about my true "self." Confessions, 10.5.7

Thanksgiving in the Boogie Down BX

Over the course of this year there are many things to be thankful for. The most predominant of which has been my involvement with the Augustinian Volunteers and all of the great people I have met thus far on my journey.

This year was the first in twenty-five that I have been away from home for Thanksgiving and I couldn't have picked a better group to share it with than my community and the Bronx community. We headed down to NYC on Wednesday night just so that we would be able to be up and at em for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! We hopped the 4 train for Grand Central Terminal at 5:30am Thursday morning and by the time we were on the corner of 42nd and 6th the streets were all ready filling up with those who, like us, were there to experience the mystery and wonder of GIGANTIC balloons and High School marching bands.



When we got back to Andrew's Ave. in the BX Brian was already at work preparing for our feast. Everyone got involved doing our best to make this a Thanksgiving weekend we would never forget. A short six hours later, with the turkey ready for carving, we began setting the table and receiving a few guests from the block.

Guys night out in the Bronx

Friday we spent the afternoon wandering around Manhattan on Brian's whirlwind tour. We began at Central Park, moved down through Rockafeller Center, Time Square, Wall Street, and finished up at Battery Park.

The whole gang at the Pond in Central Park

Friday night we visited a few pubs in the East Village and Midtown and just enjoyed each others company while dancing the night away. This was a weekend I will always remember and never duplicate.

Realizing my reality

Tonight was a monumental experience for me. We had our final push for our "Capital Campaign" at the Blessed Stephen Bellesini Academy. Going into the event I expected to be pouring out drinks to our prospective donors, you know... "Kissing hands and shaking babies" (Black Sheep).

The night started out slow, a few enlightened individuals talking with me and my co-workers about what the school has to offer. I would speak my peace and be completely excited about what I had to say. They were high ranking officials from many walks of life. This continued for a long while and I was happy with the conversations we had until we had our final section in which one of our current students and one of the alums spoke. A seventh grade student with the drive and clarity of a thirty year old spoke. I have never seen anyone of that age speak with such eloquence and promise. It made me forget that I worked for the school and wasn't one of the prospective donors.

He continued to speak about how much the Bellesini Academy had done for he and his predecessors and he enjoyed every bit of it. He gave a synopsis of their classes, extra-curricular activities, and evening study events.

Next on the agenda was a recent graduate of Bellesini Acedemy who is currently enrolled in a Community College and excited to excel to the extent that he will be able to receive his Bachelors in Management and an Associates in Communications. When he was about to come to his conclusion he was practically in tears and it reinforced in me WHY I AM HERE...

Though I may not be the wisest person in the world or be able to help with their current studies, I am certain that what I am doing is important. I am so blessed to be involved with the Augustinian Volunteers and I know that if you were to ask any of my cohorts they would agree fully if not in the near future.

Between the Augustinian Volunteers and my own personal love of the Bellesini Academy, I know that they are among the greatest programs in their respected fields. If you are reading this and would like to see it first-hand, please reach out to me so I can inform you of the gifts that you could give to these individuals in the future.

I am eternally grateful that my past employment opportunities were not what I was looking for so that I was so fortunate to find the Av's and do what I am today.

This is where I need and WANT to be. I could not ask for anything more and I feel as if I am learning so much that the young gentlemen (students) are getting the short end of the stick.

"Today it is seen more an more that the Church is a community in which different people have different gifts, all of which are necessary and important." ~St. Augustine

So Long Sweet Summer

So I realize that it has been a while since my last blog, and I apologize to my two fans (both of which are family) for this injustice. As the days pass by and the sun drops lower in the sky it is inevitable that the summer is drawing to an end. The September air has become a bit brisk and though it is sad to see summer end I cannot wait for the wonders of New England foliage.

All is well in Lawrence. I just completed my first full week of molding young minds - primarily working with 7th and 8th grade Language Arts classes - and though I am still just earning the students trust I could not ask for a better experience. I don't have any stories thus far that are out of the ordinary, but I assure you they will come in spades.

Community

This weekend began the first of many community outings to come. Saturday we decided to venture into our new city of Boston to meet up with some of Charlie's friends from Chi-town. We made it to the train station in Lawrence with seconds to spare and when we arrived at the North Station (which is part of the Boston Garden) we learned that Britney Spears' concert was about to begin. I must say that I have not seen that eclectic of a group of individuals converging on a venue at the same time since Skynyrd played the Bloomsburg Fair. We figured out which way was south and began in that direction to try and find our destination. With the help of one of Boston's finest we eventually made our way to the Purple Shamrock, a great Irish Pub in the Faneuil Hall section near the Old North Church. The night was filled with reunions, new acquaintances, and what will be many great memories. After crashing at the Westin Copley Place which was occupied by the Chi-town group we met up with (the same hotel where President Obama was earlier that day) Charlie and I made our way back to Lawrence to meet back up with the rest of our community.

Sunday afternoon we departed yet again to the Bank of America Pavilion on the Boston waterfront to see the Flaming Lips in concert that night. It turned out to be one of the most visually fulfilling shows I have ever seen. The lead singer began the first song by surfing the crowd in a gigantic ball while many streamers, confetti canons, and balloons were launched into the extremely enthusiastic crowd. I thought that entrance could have created a greater anticipation of things to come than you'd expect, but throughout the show they ceased to amaze me.

Beaker was at the show!!!!

If this is foreshadowing of the times we have ahead of us then I welcome it with arms outstretched.

Feast of St. Augustine

The day of the Feast of St. Augustine was yesterday. My community members and I began our day by attending mass/lunch at Merrimack College. I learned truly how small the world is when I was approached by Fr. Jim Wenzel, O.S.A. who had told me the two personal friends of his had asked him to look out for me throughout the duration of my service. Sidebar: On the first day of our arrival Fr. Joe Narog of St. A's parish told me he was from Pottsville and I had learned from my parents that my mom's roommate from college and her husband (my pseudo aunt and uncle) had attended his ordination. If that doesn't show how small the world is I don't know what will! We were then greeted by all of the friars of the college who all extended their gratitude and offered all of us their help down the road with anything we might need. It was an unnecessary gesture but greatly appreciated. We were recognized at the end of the mass for our service in the community and barraged by the congregation with what seemed to be a set list of questions. The evening consisted of evening prayer at St. Ambrose friary on the campus of Merrimack and a genuine FEAST with the friars after the conclusion of prayer. After dinner we said our goodbyes and were given ALL of the leftovers which included about three pounds of Sesame Chicken, Green Bean Salad, and Gazpacho soup. We have all quickly learned that as long as the Augustinian friars are around we will not go hungry!