Midwest Catholic Worker Retreat ~ April 26 - 28 (click on image to enlarge)

"Priceless" Salvation, by Desiree

This world is so BEAUTIFUL, yet
Some never STOP to see how ugly they
can make it "look".
It's sad if you ask me ...
Many people on this earth believe
That wealth and power is best ...
Yet poor can have much more than
rich, it's they who pass that test.
You may be criticized
by MAN if you don't
fit in style ...
relax in a field, wade
in the ocean
stay there for awhile
You'll realize what matters most, It's
Not what others say.
It's how you
Treat
what's always yours.
There is no price to pay.

After visiting us for showers one day,
we found Desiree's poem on our desk.
An unexpected gift.

Clarification of Thought Meetings

We are restarting our Clarification of Thought meetings. This is an age old tradition going back to the sermon on the mount. It is discipleship through dialog and round table discussions. So we are forming ourselves as the Beloved Community by informing ourselves on issues pertinent to following Jesus in today's world.

We will be meeting monthly on Fridays (usually the first Friday) at Kafe Kiskeya, in the storefront next door to Cherith Brook main house. Below is the schedule for the next few months. We invite all to attend.

November 16
Christians & Torture:
Learning about the School of the Americas (WHINSEC) with video & discussion.

December 7
Gospel Birth Stories & Consumerism

January 11
Women suffering Violence:
Veronica’s Voice

February 1
Eating for Life & Justice:
Dr. L. Shannon Jung, St. Paul School of Theology

Cherith Brook ESL & Tutoring

In addition to offering showers, clothing, meals, and visiting prisoners, we practiced the acts of mercy at Cherith Brook last year by hosting and empowering two Somali refugee families for six months. Our twice-weekly English classes supplemented in-school learning for all four children, and were also available to the two mothers (who took class 4 mornings a week at Don Bosco).

Our English classes ranged from practical survival/job-training skills to Math and/or Social Studies, to fun-educational outings. This low-pressure, 1-on-1 helping was transformative for both the children and mothers.

Christ's Wisdom

So I awake from a peace-filled night
How is it that I stumble and fall?
Have I forgotten the wisdom of Christ,
to love with your whole heart, mind and soul,
God and the beauty God has given us,
the beauty of family, friends, strangers, guests.
Christ's wisdom commands us to begin to try
and love our enemies
not seven times
but seven times seventy!
A life full of trying
to love each other as Christ loves us
and to try
and to try
and to try ...
Thank you Jesus Christ, my friend and companion,
for showering our earth
with your wisdom.

~Steve Francis Joseph Sheridan

We are asking for communities & individuals to partner with us to support the apartments.

Such gifts help us to offer hospitality with the abundance befitting God's love and grace, and create a redistribution of resources that embody God's Beloved Community on earth as in heaven. Families will take the furnishings to start their new home. Presently we need vacuums, tables & chairs, dressers, working bikes & fans.

New Members and New Opportunities!

Please pray for our community this summer as we grow with new members, new dynamics, and new focus on our work:

Eligio Araya has recently moved into the house with us.
Trey Thompson, our summer intern, will be here next week.
Chris and Katie Brennan-Homiak are moving into the neighborhood in June.
And Eric will be on break from his teaching, and no longer with the church, so he can focus more on the neighborhood.

During our next Friday Night Clarification meeting, May 25th, we plan to watch a DVD on the Lost Boys of Sudan. We hope to learn more about the lives of our new neighbors from Somalia. After May, we will be taking a break from our Clarification Meetings, and will resume in August or September. However, we will continue our Friday Night Sharing throughout the summer months.

We also hope to transition our Community Meal to be a serving meal for homeless and needy families in our area. We are exploring this now, and expect it will mean new opportunities for volunteers!