Delegation 2000 Index
Upcoming Events | Events in Review | Meet
the Committee | Meeting Minutes | Delegations | News
from TNII | Political News | Links
Sister Parish Home
Thursday, November 2nd, 2000
Day 7
Today's Contact Person: Susan Sell-612.823.5901 or jhsell@wavefront.com
| Schedule of Activities |
 9 am: SJA to Shopping at
Kmart and Savers
10:30 am: Edison
School, a Project for Pride in Living project
11:30 am: Lunch
12:30-5 pm: Tour Project for Pride in
Living, 2516 Chicago Avenue Minneapolis, (612)
874-8511
5 pm: Dinner at Best Steak. 5:15 pm.
1910 Chicago Ave. Mpls (All are welcome
to join)
7 pm: Adults in Bible Study with SJA
group at Carols house; Youth at Camp Snoopy |
 |
Thursday, November 2, 2000
Today began with a shopping trip to Savers Thrift Store on
Lake Street. The Guatemalans shopped for spouses, children,
brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, other family members and
themselves!! Shoes, purses, clothing and several teddy bears
found their way into the shopping carts. A couple of Santa
Bears will have a new home in TNII.
The remainder of the day was an experience of contrasts. We
were accompanied by Joe Selvaggio, a member of St. Joan of Arc
and the founder of Project for Pride in Living (PPL). Through
Joe we learned of the PPL goals: jobs, housing,
self-sufficiency, and education for those in need. We toured
PPL Industries on Washington Ave. in Minneapolis where workers
are hired at the minimum wage, taught job skills, have the
opportunity to study for the GED exam during the work day and
are helped to find other jobs at higher wages.
The emphasis on education was reinforced by our visit to
PPL/Edison School on Lake Street. Cooperation between PPL and
the Minneapolis School District led to this school. The
children are provided by PPL and the curriculum and teachers by
the School District. The K-8 school is bright and colorful with
a wonderful Computer Center and Library. The children wear
uniforms, a decision made by their parents. The Code of Conduct
for Students was displayed in several locations. Our guide,
Maria, is a parent and staff person at the school. She arrived
from Mexico in the 80's not knowing any English and having the
sole responsibility for raising her children when her husband
left. Maria got a job with PPL, learned English, lived on her
wages and some governmental assistance, received help in buying
a home which she continues to pay for and now has a job with a
lot of responsibility at PPL/Edison. We were thrilled by her
success!
Because decent, affordable housing is another
of the PPL goals, we had the opportunity to visit Alice in her
home in the inner city. Thirty years ago a volunteer group from
St. Joan of Arc bought and rehabbed the house built around
1870. Alice has been its occupant owner ever since and this
past summer made the final mortgage payment on her home. This
78-year-old woman worked in a laundry until 1987. She now has a
job as a Receptionist in a Senior Citizen Center and does
volunteer work. Her house continues to be home to her children
and grandchildren on occasion. We loved her positive outlook on
people and life. PPL is actually an outgrowth of this housing
project started by SJA people as well as others.
The delegation also visited Catholic Charities Branch III
whose mission is to work with the homeless. We were surprised
to learn how many of their clients are working but are unable
to find housing due to the serious lack of affordable housing
and/or the low wages they are earning. Branch III serves two
meals a day, provides laundry facilities, showers and lockers
for their clients , and offers employment assistance and
assistance in applying for chemical dependency treatment from
the county. Clients may use the Branch's address on job
applications as lack of a permanent address can be an obstacle
to employment.
Between the above visits we drove to Lake
Minnetonka to a beautiful home on Robinson's Bay owned by the
Geoffrion family. The first floor of their home is available as
a Retreat Center for Spiritual Leaders who may use the space as
they need and want. We were impacted by the tranquility and
beauty of the lake, the home and yard. A unique feature in the
yard is a labyrinth carefully mowed and built with bricks to
create a meditative walk towards its center. We were encouraged
to pray for others as we walked toward the center and to pray
for ourselves as we returned to the edges. The Deep Haven
Labyrinth is visited by people from all over the country. It is
available year round to people with the request that you
contact them first at Jillkhg7@aol.com.
The environment at the lake was significantly
different from what we had experienced throughout the day. As
Joe Selvaggio commented, it was an opportunity to see how
people who have much, live and at the same time, to experience
the spirituality and generosity of these people. Jill
Geoffrion, the author of several books, shared with us the
history of the labyrinth, answered our questions and prayed
together with us.
Our day concluded with dinner in Minneapolis at a restaurant
run by Cambodian tenants in a PPL shopping mall. Then we went
to the Bible Study Group to share and prepare for Sunday's
readings and homily. The delegates will be presenting the
homily this Sunday as well as offering music. Please come and
hear their messages.
