What would you like to know about St. Joan of Arc? Do you have a story about our parish or of general interest that you think others would like to hear? For story ideas, contact Jeff Rholl, jeff@stjoan.com.

At St. Joan’s 9 o’clock liturgy almost any Sunday, you may be sitting next to one of Minneapolis’s prime movers and shakers. . .

Joe signing after Mass

and not know it. Joe Selvaggio moves among the wealthy at places like the Minneapolis Club, shaking down the affluent to provide capital to help those who will never belong to anything upscale. He speaks softly, is inconspicuous in crowds and for years, wore the same corduroy jacket that a friend had discarded.

Joe’s life is being celebrated in a just-published book, In the Streets. . . In the Suites, and in a play, aptly entitled Joe, to be presented by the Great American History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St. in St. Paul, from Jan. 8 to Feb.1 next year. The book is a collection of short excerpts from the play and essays about Joe’s life and work by his friends, each followed by Joe’s commentary in the form of a letter to his son, Sam. Some of the topics addressed are: Faith and Reason, Safety and Neighborhoods, and Justice Is in the Eye of the Beholder revealing Joe's practical application of spiritual concerns.

Many of the essays’ authors or others mentioned have connections to St. Joan’s or are otherwise very familiar to parishioners-Fathers George Wertin, Harvey Egan and Ed Flahavan, recently deceased former Bishop, founding CEO of the Minnesota Council on Foundations Jim Shannon, and former Minneapolis Police Chief Tony Bouza. Others are retired CEOs: parishioner Ted Pouliot of Pouliot Design; Richard McFarland of Dain Rauscher; John Hartwell of Land-O-Nod Mattress Co., and former executive vice president of the Yoplait Division of General Mills Steve Rothschild who is founder and chairman of the board of Twin Cities RISE! They have all been involved in Joe’s work in building the Project for Pride in Living (PPL) over 25 years from a staff of one and a budget of $12,000 to 200 employees and a $ 12 million annual budget.

After he retired from PPL and its mission of “helping low-income people become self-sufficient by addressing their job, housing, and neighborhood needs,” Joe began to focus on the folks at the other end of the income scale. In the last six years, he has cajoled 700 high-rollers to become members of his One Percent Club, each promising to donate annually at least that percentage of his or her net worth to charity.

And then there is one story by Susan Flagler that represents other long-suffering friends of Joe who were given the “opportunity” of serving the poor in a very personal way-like having them move into their houses, usually on the pretext that they could be of such help with the household chores. Sue’s suspicions as to the amount of help to expect were correctly aroused when the new arrival asked, “And where do the servants stay?”.

Joe Selvaggio has been featured in 2 previous stories on www.stjoan.com: Joe Selvaggio: How Can I Help? The Right to Travel to Cuba

Pat Ryan Greene is a mother of six, retired writer/editor and a member of St. Joan's almost since she and her family moved to Minneapolis in 1968.

Nancy Lynch says, "Joy is being a wife, Mom of fourteen, eight with varying disabilities and living at home, Grandma of thirteen, and Great Grandma of three. Serenity is listening and watching the ocean, alone, at our home on Maui. Passion is friends, photography, reading, swimming and children.

Avis Von Eschen Parishioner for 22 years ...Retired school teacher ...St. Joan's Bridge Club ...Charter member of Adults Alive ...Co-ordinates Christmas activity for St. Joan's with the Indian Ministry ...Summer office volunteer.