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Working, Praying, and Living in the Spirit of Vincent DePaul
June 2008
Seeing the Invisible
by Laura Brodhun
| Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. Mother Teresa |
Laura tutoring refugees at the International Institute.
I met an invisible man this year. His name is Ron. I apologized for not hearing him respond when I called out his name as the next on my blood pressure screening list. He looked as if he just expected it to be that way. He told me that it’s okay and that no one ever hears him, no one ever sees him. Nobody notices him.
What he said really struck me. I too had looked right through him and not heard him. How many other people have I looked right through? I imagine this is how much of the homeless population must feel; completely set apart from the rest of humanity, invisible to those of us with more fortunate lives.
During my time working at St. John’s Mercy Neighborhood Ministry, I have seen Jesus in the most unlikely places. I meet Him for lunch every Friday when I serve a meal at a soup kitchen. I see Him when I look into the face of a young single mother unable to buy the basic necessities for her child, let alone a Christmas gift.
I talk with Him every time I tutor a refugee who has moved into our strange foreign land. None of these faces should ever have to feel invisible. I don’t have all that much to offer. I have no special skills or talents that make me more qualified than others. What I have come to realize is that I do have something of worth to offer—I have the ability to offer compassion, an open ear, and friendship.
The next time I saw Ron I smiled and said, “Hi, Ron. How are you doing?” He looked at me awestruck and couldn’t believe I remembered him, let alone his name. I’ve made it a point to say “Hi” every time I see him and to find out how he’s doing. He always has a smile on his face whenever we meet at the soup kitchen.
A while in, the roles reversed. He sought me out, asked how I was doing, and commented on my year being almost up.
It was such a small gesture on his part, but it made me smile to know someone cared enough to come find me in a busy room just to say hello. I realize now, that is the same small gesture that I showed him.
You don’t have to do anything big to brighten someone’s day or make them feel worthwhile. This year I’ve learned that sometimes a simple smile, an act of acknowledgement, may be all that it takes. Who will you smile at today?
Laura has spent her volunteer year working at St. John’s Mercy Neighborhood Ministry, an agency seeking to improve the quality of life for poor and underserved communities by increasing health care access, providing education, and coordinating community resources.
GVV 5th Annual GVV Golf Tournament
was a GREAT Success!
Combine hardworking, dedicated volunteers, generous donors, wonderful players, a historic, well-maintained golf course, beautiful weather, good food made by great chefs, and what do you get?
A hugely successful charity golf tournament! We are so grateful to ALL who made our 5th Annual
GVV Golf Tournament on June 2nd at Normandie Golf Club a terrific day. Through your kindness
and participation, we were able to meet and even exceed our fundraising goal. Thank you ALL
very much!
GVV Golf Committee: Denny Cuddihee (Chairperson), Fr. Jim Cormack, C.M., Bill Donegan, Rich LaPlume, Tim Mohan, Fr. Ed Murphy, C.M., Fr. David Nations, C.M., Sr. Kathy Overman, D.C., and Jim Ryan.
Other VERY important helpers: Wanda Mohan, Harry Wilson, Larry Koenig, Fr. Jerry Morales, C.M., GVVs Laura Brodhun, Danny Lyskowski, Lisa Mata, Jennifer Mohan, Christine Nordhaus, Karen Schumacher, Carrie Tucker, and former GVV volunteers Rachael Edelen, Clare Lassiter, and Alicia Euyoque.
Corporate Benefactor
Pallet Logistics Management, Inc. & PLM Transport, Inc.
3311 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103
Courtesy of Steven D. Snodsmith
Marilyn Abkemeier—Realty Executives of St. Louis
Arvo and Suzanne Aulik
Bryan Barge—Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Millie and Larry Berra
The Tom Calhoun Family
Kevin Carbol
Centrue Bank—Don Davis
Congregation of the Mission
Corporate Express
DDI Media—Jeff Muhr
Des Peres Graphics
Tom and Patti Dinkins
Excellent Clean Company
Dr. Jack and Carolyn Fogarty
The Fowler Family
Franciscan Connection
Generation Gems
Glen Echo Country Club
Grey Eagle Distributors, David Stokes
Guardian Angel Settlement Association
Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar
Henning Communications, Inc—Patrick Henning
Fr. Thomas Hinni, C.M.
Mike and Katy Kapilla
The Hoge Family
Helmut and Mary Rose Kramer
Kuna Food Service—Don Bippen
Dave Maas—Royal Papers
McMahon Ford
McMahon Pontiac GMC
Lee Neumann—Millenia Advisors
Novak Jewelers
Paul’s Market—Gary Crump
Pavyer Printing Works
Pepsi Americas—Chuck Hamburg
Rehab 1 Network—Bill Hopfinger
Royal Bank
St. Frances Cabrini Academy
St. John’s Mercy Neighborhood Ministry
The Schicker Family
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schmit
Southwest Bank of St. Louis
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Swope
Jim Sykora
Dr. John W. Tabash Child & Adult Orthodontics
John Temporiti & the Missouri
Democratic Party
Tricia and John Thiel
Scott Thompson
Joseph and Kathleen Vitale
Robert Vondera
Ed Wahl
Small Moments
by Lisa Mata
Lisa helping a client at Hosea House.
This year has been full of highs and lows, friends and foes, heads and toes, poetry and prose... and other stuff too, but what I will remember most clearly out of all of it will be the relationships. Friends made, trusts gained and even, or most importantly, the small, everyday interactions between people.
What is most beautiful about those small moments is that it does not matter how you both got to be there, what your backgrounds are, how old you are, what you have or have not done in your life, but that you are both in that moment interacting and have the potential to make an impact on each other. It is so common that it is often over looked but it is also such a rare and precious opportunity. You will never have that exact moment again to relive with that person. And the least effort made has the potential to really touch the other if they are open to it. It is important to try to make the best of every moment, no matter that there are many in our lives.
As I look back on my year thus far, I can remember moments that I both did and did not take advantage of. But even when the other was unresponsive, I do not ever regret trying. The times I do regret, every one of them, were the times when, whether because I was very busy, felt overworked, was exhausted or whatever, I allowed myself to not reach out that extra bit more and ask the client sitting across from me why they were angry or if their kids enjoyed school.
There have been plenty of times this year when I will begin by asking a person that I am serving how everything is going with them and they will brusquely reply that it is not well at all and they do not want to talk about it.
And then a few minutes later, after I ask a less invasive question, they will just start telling me everything that has gone wrong lately, from fires to floods to evictions, fees, and fines, to tripping on the stairs while carrying a hot pot of chili and spilling it everywhere, to close relatives passing away both recently and ten years ago, to loud neighbors and disconnection notices, to kids dropping out of school and addiction problems or abuse, to fear of getting old or being alone or having to share a room.
The list goes on but they always thank me for listening when they are done, often apologizing between thank you’s, and I have to assure them that it was quite alright. Some have psychiatrists and go to counseling regularly and some tell me that I was the first person they had ever been able to speak openly to. And especially with the latter, I am always left wondering what if I had not pushed that extra bit or did not try to appear open to them? They would very likely have been leaving me with that burden still unshared and weighing heavily on them.
One client in particular I remember from the beginning of my year. She came in for a food appointment and spoke to me at great length about the problems she was having with her family and life. I listened, offered her some resources to look into, and told her that she could come back and talk to me at any time. She thanked me
and left.
A few months passed and she came in again. This time she came directly to me, gave me a hug, and started crying. She then proceeded to tell me how the last time she was here, she had planned on, after getting the food, to hit the road and leave her family because she could not deal with it anymore. But she said that after talking to me, everything changed for her, and she went home that day to her
She told me that he was amazed because she had not smiled in months and he wanted her to go back right that very moment to me and thank me. She had looked into the resources I had given her and they now had a social worker and a family counselor. Things were far from perfect but she was no longer despairing.
The next time she came she did not come for services but only to bring her counselor in to meet me, and I was so touched because she was so proud to be able to introduce me. It was like she thought I was some really great person. Inside I wanted to protest and say that I didn't do anything worthy of such praise, all I did was listen to her.
Listening to someone seems like such a small thing, but from her point of view, it was huge. I know it was not simply my own will that brought that event about. It could never have happened without Christ. I thank Him for letting me be there to be used as His instrument. I pray for the strength and courage to be open to His grace the next time I am in a similar situation, another moment with another person. All glory and honor to God.
Lisa works at Guardian Angel Settlement Association at Hosea House.
With Grateful Hearts, We Thank Our Donors!
The names listed below are those generous people who made donations after
our Matching Gifts Appeal concluded in March. Thank you for your help!
YOU help make the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Program possible.
An Anonymous Vincentian
Delbert and Agnes Bohnert
Adam Brown (GVV 06-07)
Lucille Curtin
Paul Heidemann
Edwin and Audrey Kadlec
Christy Leming (GVV 03-04)
St. Michael’s Conference of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul
Rev. John Richardson, C.M.
Mary Lou and Bill Schicker
John and Joan Vatterott
Gerald and Joan Wentzel
Grace Whalen
Rev. Robert Zimney. C.M.
Tributes in Honor of:
Amy Arendt (GVV 03-04)
from her parents, Sharon & David Arendt
Mary Lou Schicker on Mother’s Day
from Tricia and John Thiel
Tributes in Memory of:
Roma Colton
from Briana Colton (GVV 05-06)
Louise and Perina Cucco
from Larry and Amelia Berra
Jessica Martin
from Michael Martin
John E. McDonough, Sr.
From Kevin and Linda McDonough
We also sincerely thank our donors who have asked to remain anonymous. If we have inadvertently omitted your name from our donor list, please accept our sincere apology AND let us know so that we can correct the error in our next newsletter.
GVV Final Retreat
On May 29-30, the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers had their final retreat. The retreat provided the volunteers with time for reflection, prayer, sharing, and fun.
Fr. Jim Cormack, C.M., gave three talks, each designed to help the volunteers reflect on their year of service to those who are poor and on how they can continue to live the Vincentian spirit as they leave the GVV program.
The volunteers also wrote their departing covenant. Each volunteer wrote one “I” statement, describing what they will take with them from their volunteer year. Those “I” statements are then converted to “We” statements and become the departing covenant of the GVVs of 2007-2008. (Please take a moment to read the covenant on the next page.)
During the retreat, each volunteer led a prayer that he or she had prepared for the group. During his reflection on Friday morning, Danny Lyskowski reminded his community members of the discussion from Thursday night that focused on what the volunteers will commit themselves to as they go forward. He gave each volunteer a slip of paper that stated a fact about the recent disasters in Myanmar and China. He then gave each of his six fellow volunteers a check for $50.00 from his own bank account and invited his community to help him spend his $300.00 government economic stimulus check! He distributed lists of charities that are helping relieve suffering, and each volunteer chose a charity for their $50.00 check. What an inspiring act from a volunteer who is soon going to law school and paying his own way! Thank you, Danny.
The volunteers left the retreat feeling refreshed and ready to complete the last month of their service. We thank Fr. Jim for his time with us!
The Departing Covenant of the
2007-2008 GVVS
As we prepare to leave our year of service, we intend that the spirit of the GVV community will live on in us. We pray that our community will grow in others by the way we live the Vincentian charism. To grow the GVV community, we will:
- Be present with and treat all living things with dignity and respect.
- Continue to see the face of Christ in all people, live simply, reflect our spirituality in our daily lives, serve the poor, and love and be loved.
- Take with us all the pride, joy, hope, happiness, and friendship involved in helping and serving the poor as well as the energy, passion, excitement, love, and encouragement for every child and adult we meet.
- Be more accepting of our potential to affect the lives of others so that we will consistently and genuinely reach out to others through our words and actions.
- Keep our hearts and minds open to the many faces of Christ and live compassionately, purposefully, and celebratively as a testimony for Christ’s love of all life.
- Keep our eyes open to the bigger picture, be aware of and share what we have learned about our consumption of the world’s limited resources, and keep pure hearts and peaceful minds.
- Remember this opportunity and privilege—not sacrifice, not experiment, not diversion, not delay—as an invitation to join and share in the universal communion, a true beginning that has no end.
On June 1, GVV Karen Schumacher, along with others from the St. Louis community, was presented with a Franciscan Spirit Award. Congratulations, Karen!
Dear Friends, Laura will be studying Clinical Psychology at the graduate level, Jenny will be working on a Master’s degree in Public Service, and Lisa will be working on an advanced degree in Theology. Christine is joining the VIDES program and will be serving for two years in Australia. Danny will be attending law school, and Karen will be serving as a short-term volunteer with the Vincentian Lay Missionaries in Kenya. Carrie will be moving with Laura to Indiana and working there. Please keep these young people in your prayers as they depart the GVV program. We also ask for your prayers for the new group of seven volunteers that will arrive in August. Thank you for ALL your support of the GVV program! Jim and Geri |
The Gateway Vincentian Volunteers
Program Board of Directors
Fr. Ed Murphy, C.M., President
Rich LaPlume, Vice-President
Tricia Thiel, Treasurer
John Capellupo
Fr. Jim Cormack, C.M.
Janel Esker
Ted Fiedler
Martha Lane
Tim Mohan
Sr. Mary Patrice Murray, D.C.
Fr. David Nations, C.M.
Sr. Kathy Overman, D.C.
Nichole Purvis
Fr. Joe Williams, C.M.
Jim and Geri Ryan, Directors
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Gateway Vincentian Volunteers
2912 Arsenal Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) - 771-1474
Toll free: (888)-771-7220
Fax: (314) - 771-2410
email: gatevol@aol.com