August 2010

“The Maryknoll Sisters are alive and well!”
- Sister Janet McLaughlin

http://www.mklsisters.org/index.php?option=com_mojo&Itemid=28&cat=2

Meeting a Deer along the Road

I have taken hundreds of pictures of the beauty all around the Knoll – on both sides of the road, so much so that I cannot find the exact picture of the path I was on last night when a very young deer and I met, each of us jumped back and each of us stood like statues. I would like to thank the deer because this incident brought about my meeting of Janet McLaughlin who was walking up the same path. She had no reason to know me and I did not know her but am delighted to say after our brief encounter that Maryknoll Sisters were wise enough to choose Janet as their leader along with the rest of the leadership team to be in these positions at a time of unknown and challenging changes to carry Maryknoll into the next 100 years. I hope you will check out the above links (if you are interested) to learn more of her background; and the second link is a weekly blog written by the team. When I asked Janet what she would like people to know about the Maryknoll Sisters or Africa, without a moment hesitation, she responded:

Alive and Well

Lively

United and Thriving

In my experience this past week, I see a sea of gray – (yes, a stream of gray and white hair) of strong women who are carrying with them a deep love of the people and cultures they left behind or are now in the process of returning to them. I also see mixed in between very few, but extremely vibrant young people who have joined Maryknoll from different countries around the world.

Now, for the little deer: he was happy to hear us talking as, after a while, he mustard up enough courage to dart across the road to his perceived safe haven. If he could read, he would realize that his home at the Knoll on both sides of the road, is truly safe.

No Hunting!

I have one more day left at Maryknoll. This atmosphere inspired me to call attention to world homelessness. As I read of all the countries with such dire circumstances both here and overseas, I hope to never forget that the millions in number in reality are one person at a time. For me, if you help who is standing in front of you, you also touch those millions upon millions. In my view, these days are not times for despair or sadness, but rather for coming together with energy and belief in the future.

World Homeless Day 10-10-10

Homelessness in New York City:

“Each night, over 38,000 homeless individuals sleep in the New York City shelter system. This includes more than 16,000 children and 8,000 single adults. Thousands more sleep on city streets and in other public places.”
- Source

ZIMBABWE: No hope yet for the homeless:

“Her predicament can be traced back to 2005, when President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF government launched Operation Murambatsvina (Drive out Filth), and the family dwelling, along with her father’s shoe repair business, was among the tens of thousands of urban structures that were demolished.”
- Source

Fresh Pakistan floods displace 1 million more people:

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (Reuters) – About one million more people have been displaced in Sindh over the last 48 hours as devastating floods continue to spread across south Pakistan, the United Nations said on Friday.
- Source

Keeping Positive for the Desparate

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“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.”
- Carl Jung

Strong, Sturdy, Lasting

The Farmhouse was located in this exact parking lot at the Maryknoll Fathers’ site. The Farmhouse is remembered through this inscription and ‘sculpture’. Co-Founders, Father Walsh and Father Price had the vision which expanded to the wisdom and vision of Mollie Rogers (Mother Mary Joseph), Founder of the Maryknoll Sisters.

Inscription

THE FARMHOUSE
WHICH STOOD ON THIS SITE BECAME
ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1912
THE FIRST SEMINARY OF MARYKNOLL
LATER IT WAS THE MOTHERHOUSE
OF THE MARYKNOLL SISTERS
AND AFTERWARDS, THE RESIDENCE
OF THE MARYKNOLL BROTHERS

World Homeless Day 10-10-10

This great picture was in the Mission Institute at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. I am using the photo for my reminder to you of World Homeless Day.

New York State report card on helping Homeless Children has a 38% ranking. With the increasing number of children, the State has no ten year plan or any type of direct planning or funding for education. http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/pdf/report_cards/short/ny_short.pdf

Homelessness in London, England:

“In London there is a severe shortage of decent, affordable housing. This is reflected in the high numbers of homeless households in temporary accommodation. The government has introduced a range of laws and policies to help tackle homelessness. The Homelessness Act 2002 requires all local authorities to develop a homelessness strategy for their area. Each London borough has a strategy which looks at preventing homelessness and providing accommodation and support for homeless people. Across London there are over 160 charitable organizations providing hundreds of different services to homeless people.”
- Source

Homelessness in Bolivia:

“By 2010, between 200 and 300 million children will be living on the streets worldwide. Today, we look at one organization in Bolivia that is working to give street children a safe and loving home. The Bolivian Street Children Project was started in 1997 by Chi Huang, an American doctor. Since its founding, the project has reached out and helped over 500 children. We talk with Chi Huang about the Bolivian Street Children Project.”
- Source

Fallen Leaves

Fun Tree

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