WELCOME FRIENDS OF CLARE HOUSE!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Clare House News
by Tina Sipula
People wonder when I tell them February
and March are some of my favorite times of the year – not because of the
horrible weather, but because I have begun the recovery from the food drive. Food drive meetings begin in October, our
team works very long and difficult hours all through November and then the
holidays mean non-stop door bells and incessant phone calls. January morning’s mantra is: “It’s over.” The 50 phone calls a day stop, the new
batteries have been placed in the worn-out door bell, and like the snow-covered
daffodil leaves, we await in anticipation for the promise of spring.
But it is all worth it when we spend the
rest of year making sure everyone who comes to our door is fed, and not a
single child goes to bed hungry. We
thank everyone who helped in any way with the Annual Holiday Food Drive and to
those who continue to help throughout the year to feed our many brothers and
sisters. Our food drive fell a little short of our goal, but we know the other
food drives through the year will help to keep our doors open. Special kudos to St. John’s Lutheran Church
who is conducting their annual Lenten food drive, where their goal is to
collect 5,000 items before Easter! And
many thanks to the businesses who have chosen to continue to collect for us
throughout the year – beyond their usual drive during the month of
November. As one person recently told
us, “Need has no season.”
In February we had a great 75th
birthday party for Sr. Glenda Bourgeois.
All the Clare House volunteers she works with were invited along with
all of her friends from Decatur. When
she walked through the door and all shouted, “Surprise!” it was all worth it to
see her look of awe and joy reflected back at her 60 friends. We sang, ate, laughed, and of course, told
stories for hours.
On Friday April 19th at 7:00
p.m., we will host Rosalie Riegle at the Holy Trinity Parish Center, where she
will speak about her two recently published books, Crossing the Line –
Non-Violent Resisters Speak Out for Peace, and Doing Time for Peace. Rosalie co-founded two Catholic Worker houses
in Saginaw, Michigan and taught English at Saginaw Valley State University from
1969 to 2003. The oral histories in
these volumes include interviews with over 75 peacemakers who have engaged in civil disobedience, often
with the consequences of jail or prison.
A book-signing will follow her
presentation.
As Easter approaches, I am reminded of a
quote from Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement: “What we do is very little. But it is like the little boy with a few
loaves and fishes. Christ took that
little and increased it. He will do the
rest. What we do is so little that we
may seem to be constantly failing. But
so did He fail. He met with apparent
failure on the Cross. But unless the
seed falls into the earth and dies, there is no harvest. And why must we see the results? Our work is to sow. Another generation will be reaping the
harvest.”
Lenten Reflection
by Donna Boelen
At the beginning of Lent we hear the
phrase, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” which perhaps is a metaphor for the
circle of life. We begin as helpless,
defenseless beings and end in a similar fashion. Just as the forty days of Lent are a fraction
of the 365 days of a year so is our existence in the scheme of things. How can
we make the most of our short time on earth?
Let us celebrate Lent by fasting from
passiveness and abstaining from selfishness.
Give alms generously in the form of time and talent. Pray that our actions have a positive
influence on someone else.
We have but one life to live and will not pass this
way again so lovingly share the journey.
Grove School Food Drive
Brandon and Mindy Mauler delivering
the donations collected in the 5th Grade classes at Grove School in
a food drive organized by the 5th Grade Team.This is a great example
of how important mini-food drives are to successfully providing for our
community.
The Catholic Worker: A Network for Social Change
By Sister Glenda Bourgeois, O.S.U.
Networking for social change captures headlines today,
whether it is the Arab Spring, the Occupy Movement, the cause of Violence
against Women or the Green Movement to
mention but a few. In this moment of human evolution there is a surge to bring
about desired and necessary change by awakening and activating the public.
Communities are forming around urgent social issues.
It is in this light that the history of The Catholic Worker
Movement has found and continues to find its purpose and meaning. Dorothy Day
saw desperate human need. She saw the indignity of persons who were jobless,
hungry and homeless and she did what she could to give them dignity. In a short
time she was joined by others whose social conscience activated them to align
with her to bring about a more just society.
As we know Catholic Worker communities
proliferated throughout the States and the world.
Here in Bloomington, Clare House, through the initiative of
Tina Sipula, provides the opportunity and the organization for city wide networking
to feed the hungry. Countless groups and many individuals are dedicated members
of this Catholic Worker community as are those brothers and sisters who are
served at Loaves and Fishes and those who stand in line to receive some life
necessities. Clare House is the focus of extraordinary community here in
Bloomington. It is a community that is inclusive and welcoming. The network of
those giving and those receiving is the source of nourishment for everyone. I
am so grateful to be included in this community.
Many Thanks
Many thanks to
Flynn Tree Service for trimming the tree that was scraping against the side of
Clare House. They donated this wonderful service and gave a generous donation
during our food drive! So many good people out there! We are very blessed.
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