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.
Need Has No Season
When I thanked the fellow who delivered a
truckload of food from Morris Tick yesterday, I told him how happy we were that
they continued to collect for us. Originally they were only going to collect
for our food drive in November, but they have continued to put empty barrels
out for us at their business and people keep filling them up. His response when
he went out the door was, "Need has no season!"
Lent: What Kind of Giving?
By Bill Tolone
During
the Lenten season, we sometimes think of "giving something up" as a
way of self-discipline; a favorite food
or drink or even, in this day and age, our favorite form of technology. But, we know that Lent means much more than
this. Fasting and abstinence are
meaningful expressions of sacrificing something and, yet, "giving of
ourselves to others in need" can be a better way of making choices to help
our sisters and brothers.
Scripture
tells us (Matthew 25:35): "...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed
me...." This is a well-known and
often-quoted passage, but scripture holds many more admonitions to give of
ourselves. For example, Isaiah (25:4)
says "...you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy
in distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat." And in Proverbs (31:20) a good wife is
described as one who "opens her hands to the poor, and reaches out her
hands to the needy." This is the
kind of giving of ourselves which makes Lent a meaningful time for
self-sacrifice and what we have done at Clare House for the past 35 years.
So,
what can we do during Lent? While the
annual food drive for Clare House is held prior to Thanksgiving, the need for
providing food is year-round. Consider
joining us as a Clare House volunteer and extend the Lenten season of giving of
yourself. Volunteering means just
that; not an obligation to do something
every day or on a certain day each week.
It means doing what you can within your other responsibilities to
family, work and school. It can mean
filling bags of food with us on either Wednesday evenings or Saturday
mornings. Or, it can mean helping to
distribute food on Wednesdays or Fridays at 1:00 p.m. Or, it can mean helping with the Loaves and
Fishes lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays at St. Mary's Church in
Bloomington. Or, writing thank-you notes
to those who contribute food to Clare House.
Or, organizing food-drives at your place of work or worship. Or, donating books to the Free Library in
front of Clare House. Lots of ways to
help our brothers and sisters in need.
Once
you become a Clare House volunteer, you will realize that, while you are
helping the less fortunate in our community, they are "giving" back
to you in a much greater way.
From our Facebook Page...
THIS PAGE CONTAINS SOME
OF THE POSTS FROM THE CLARE HOUSE FACEBOOK PAGE. PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME, VISIT OUR PAGE, AND
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
January 20, 2013:
This was recently left in
our Little Free Library that we put out in front of Clare House last July:
"This was by FAR the best idea I have EVER seen, and it completely changed my attitude this evening. I am 27 and have a love for books. I was walking home from the bus, and his caught my eye! Thank you!!
"This was by FAR the best idea I have EVER seen, and it completely changed my attitude this evening. I am 27 and have a love for books. I was walking home from the bus, and his caught my eye! Thank you!!
January 9, 2013:
One of our women in the
food line got a new pair of boots from one of our volunteers. She kept saying,
"Happy feet!" "Happy feet!"
December 1, 2012:
A woman walked in today
with 2 boxes of food to donate. I kept looking at her as she was speaking to
Sr. Glenda, trying to place how I knew her. Finally I asked, "How do I
know you?" She looked down and said, "I'm in your food line."
She told us she wanted to give back and so she put a box out at her church and
where she waitresses part-time. I started to cry and so did she, as I thanked
her for asking others to help. Humbling and tender.
December 10, 2012:
I spoke to Mrs.
Kirchner's 4th grade class at Holy Trinity today. They gave up a party to
donate food for the needy. So I brought them cookies & we spoke about the
importance of good works & read James 2, 14. They asked fabulous questions.
February 14, 2013:
A long-bearded homeless
man sat huddled, near the wall of the soup kitchen. Even though his head was
lowered into a book, I could see he was crying. Quietly I sat down in front of
him. "What are you reading?" I asked gently. "The Bible,"
he responded in a whisper, his piercing eyes measuring my face. "What
part?" "The only two words that matter right now...'Jesus wept,' he
said. "Now I know I am not alone."
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