How much is Enough?:
Hungering for God in an Affluent Culture
Arthur Simon

I ran across this book by accident but the title immediately caught my attention. (So, I looked it up on Amazon and found it used for 70 cents, less than a candy bar.) It is not a how to book; there are no pages that outline exactly how much is enough. For anyone who seeks to follow Jesus, Simon, reminds the reader of Jesus’ words without softening them. He deals with the realities of our world- consumption, materialism, and poverty- in a non-judgmental way. He attempts to answer the question, "Why in the face of unprecedented affluence, do so many people feel discontent?" Simon highlights the fact that Christians have a moral obligation to help those who are needy and challenges us to live that call:

“Hunger is a scandal because it is a moral outrage and a violation of human dignity…It is not hunger in itself that is offensive, but the fact that people needlessly go hungry and they do so in part because of the indifference of believers.”

Simon lays out his own struggles with living the Christian life and gives examples of otherwise unknown people who have given out of their need, rather than their surplus. When his teenage son confesses he wants to be a stockbroker and a millionaire by age thirty, Simon tells him, “I would be deeply hurt to have failed so badly (as a parent).”

This is an honest and challenging book that mandates an examination of one’s life as a Christian. If you are serious about living as a disciple of Christ and you desire to live more simply, then this book is a must read. If you take it to heart you will never be the same.

My Neighborhood- Silvia Sanchez

Many people have called it the ghetto: graffiti on building walls, dark nights, the sound of loud music and police sirens every now and then. Although many people judge my neighborhood by how it looks, I know the people that live in it are some of the nicest and hard working people of them all.
The neighborhood where I live is not ordinary with big houses, expensive cars, and a high-class look. In my neighborhood there is a diversity of houses. Some people have very nice houses with a garage door, while others may live in a house that is under construction due to lack of money, or in a small mobile house. Most of my neighborhood is poor. There are families of up to seven or eight people living in a two bed room house with no air conditioning or no privacy. Many people depend on public services and public transportation because they do not have their own vehicle. Many of the kids who live in the community give up there dreams after they graduate from high school because they give up going to college in order to help their parents with their high payments. Public authorities do not take into consideration community needs, such as proper street lighting or fixing our bumpy roads. This has an affect on the community by leading it to become and unsafe place to live in. Overall, the community has overcome many barriers despite all of the disadvantages that it has had.
One important thing I can say is that I am proud of the people that live in my community. Never in my life have I met people who have such wonderful qualities, enthusiasm, and big hearts. Most of the families work up to three shifts just to have the minimal resources like water, electricity and food. Many parents try to hide their feelings so that their kids do not get worried when they don’t have enough money. It is nice to see families when they do not have money to go out and spend because what matters is that they are together. Some people always complain about hard work but are no where near knowing what these families have gone through. These families may not have any money but they have big hearts. They are amiable and generous when it comes to helping others. They may not give you money but they give you so much more that money cannot replace. Another great quality about the people is that they are very well organized. Every time something is wrong with the community they do everything in their hands to solve the problem. They come up with long sweaty marches and loud protest to catch people’s attention. And most of the time they get what they want. I believe that the people are the key to making the community better, without them this community would not be what it is today.
This neighborhood has been judged and discriminated for a very long time, but I am hoping that it will change very soon. Over the years (17) I have learned not to judge a book by its cover and I think living here has made me a bigger person on the inside. I have been living in this community for over ten years and I am not ashamed to call it my neighborhood.

Silvia lives in Cameron Park a colonia in Brownsville, TX. Cameron Park is the poorest colonia of its size in the United States. Silvia is a Senior in High School and will go to college next year. She hopes to become a pediatrician and help poor children. Photo: Silvia and her best friend Karina who also lives in Cameron Park

Just about a month ago we took a ride up the Rio Grande Valley to Mission, TX to see the wall (the wall the US Government is building between the US and Mexico. It is 500 miles long). Here, in the Valley, the wall has been a point of protest it cuts neighbor from neighbor. It is not viewed as something that will keep us safer or more secure. It is a barrier. It’s purpose is to keep people out.

Shortly after my trip to the wall I read Fr.Greg’s letter to the Vincentian Family, which focused on “And there was no room for them in the inn.” The letter was a reminder that as a Daughter of Charity I am called to be close to those who society has no room for the lost, the lonely, and outcast because the Christ child is born in them.

These two images- not having room and a wall- have struck me this holiday season. What would have happened if Mary and Joseph would have encountered a wall on their way to Bethlehem?

I have ask myself, what are the walls that I build up and who do I keep out?

This last week of Advent is about taking down walls and making room…making room for those who seem belong to no one but God. Let us welcome them....

English

A short photo video with the words of St. Catherine Laboure...use it to reflect with on her feast day, November 28.

Español
Un video de reflexión en las palabras de Santa Catalina con fotos de Fain-les-Moutier.

I love being a Daughter of Charity. We have a great charism... I wanted to share it and express it in the way that it touches me...it is lived in the world, it is international, and it is radical.

The following is a video of photos of Daughters of Charity
in ministry around the world to a song from U2,"What do you see?"

Be inspired!

The photos used are mostly from the web site of Fillesde la Charite, the International web site of the Daughters of Charity. Some are also from other D.C. web pages. I took a bit of artistic license...so many thanks to those who took these great photographs of the sisters at work!

( PHOTO: Reynosa, Mexico: Immigrantes, Sor Carmen, Sor Merecedes,
Sor Sharon and members of the San Felipe Youth Group,
Proyecto Juan Diego, Brownsville, TX )


BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN
DOS LADOS DE LA MONDEA

Las Hermanas
En el Valle tenemos la oportunidad de encontrarnos con los inmigrantes en los dos lados de la frontera. En julio, la Hermana Sharon y el grupo de jóvenes de San Felipe de Jesús visitaron en Reynosa a las Hijas de la Caridad, las tres hermanas, la Hermana Mercedes, la Hermana Carmen y la Hermana Lourdes, se encargan de organizar un refugio para los inmigrantes que se están preparando para cruzar a los Estados Unidos. Ellas les proveen de dormitorios, comida y apoyo. Las hermanas nos hablaron de la grave situación de los inmigrantes…de como guardan hasta las más pequeñas migajas de comida. Nos platicaron también sobre aquéllos que han sido deportados y que llegan con trajes color naranja que les han impuesto en las prisiones de los Estados Unidos. Ellas también compartieron con nosotros de cómo los inmigrantes esperan la llamada, que simboliza el momento en que van a ser cruzados a los Estados Unidos. Si tienen éxito, esto significa una nueva vida para ellós.

Los Inmigrantes
Después de hablar con las hermanas tuvimos también la oportunidad de hablar con algunos de ellos. Adali, un chico de 15 años de Honduras, viajó sólo a Reynosa esperando entrar a los Estados Unidos para tener una vida mejor que la que ha tenido en el campo en su ciudad. Adali tiene la misma edad de algunos de los miembros de nuestro grupo de jóvenes y ellos quedaron impresionados al oir como viajo solo…dejando atrás lo más importante en sus vidas… su familia, su amigos y su casa.

Marlon, otro inmigrante, nos habló de los grandes riesgos que las personas toman por tratar de tener una mejor vida. El nos habló de lo que sucedió en el tren donde él viajaba y de cómo una mujer y su niña de dos años fueron separadas durante el viaje. A la mamá la bajaron en otra ciudad mientras que la niña continúo en el tren hasta llegar a Reynosa. La niña fue cuidada por el resto de las personas que siguieron en el tren y cuando el tren llegó a la última parada la entregaron a un oficial de inmigración. Marlon nos dijo que, “Algunas veces la vida de las personas es peor cuando llegan a los Estados Unidos.” Marlon es el más grande de cuatro hijos, su papá dejó a su familia cuando él tenia cuatro años. El nunca terminó la escuela, pero espera poder ayudar a sus hermanos y a su hermana para que tengan una mejor educación obteniendo un trabajo en los Estados Unidos y mandándoles dinero.

A pesar de todas sus privaciones los jóvenes descubrieron la gran fe que los inmigrantes tienen en Dios y cómo esperan un milagro a un cuando sus vidas están llenos de dificultades. Ellos descubrieron como un simple pedazo de papel puede cambiar la vida de muchos… un papel de ciudadanía puede darles educación, libertad, derechos y una vida con más éxitos.

El Muro
Mientras esperabamos en el puente para regresar a los Estados Unidos los jóvenes decidieron entrevistar a un oficial de inmigración. Silvia valientemente le preguntó al agente, “¿Cual es su opinión a cerca del muro?” El respondio, “Es una pérdida de tiempo. La gente encontrara una manera de cruzarlo, al rededor de él, por arriba o por abajo. Todos vivimos en este mundo y todos tendremos que aprender a vivir juntos tarde o temprano.”

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The Sisters
In the Valley we have the opportunity to see the immigrant on both sides of the border. In July, Sister Sharon and San Felipe youth group members visited the Daughters of Charity in Reynosa, where 3 sisters, Sister Mercedes, Sister Carmen, and Sister Lourdes, run a shelter for immigrants who are preparing to come to the U.S. They provide shelter, food, and support to the immigrants. The sisters told us about the plight of the immigrants….how they take nothing for granted and save even the smallest scraps of food. They told us about those who had been deported and come to the shelter in orange jump suits that are issued from U.S. prisons. They also shared with us how the immigrants wait for the call, for the moment when they know they can cross and perhaps, if they make it, begin a new life.

The Immigrants
After speaking with the sisters we were able to talk with a few of the immigrants. Adali, a 15 year old from Honduras, traveled alone to Reynosa in hopes of entering the U.S. He dreams of having a better life than he lived in the campo of Honduras. Adali was the same age as many of the youth present and he left them imagining about what a journey alone might be like to leave everything that matters… family, friends, and home.

Another immigrant, Marlon, told us of the great risks people take in order to find a better life. He recounted the story from his train ride of a woman traveling with a 2 year old girl. The mother was dropped off in one city while her daughter continued on the train. The child was cared for by those on the train and when it arrived at the last train stop the child was handed over to immigration. “Sometimes”, he said, “people’s lives get worse in the US rather than better.” Marlon is the oldest of 4 children, his father left the family when he was 4 years old. Marlon was never able to finish school yet he hopes to help his younger brothers and sister receive an education by getting a job in the US in order to send them money for school.

Despite all the hardships immigrants face, the youth were struck by the amazing faith and hope the immigrants had in God. The teens realized that a simple piece of paper can change everything in life…a paper gives you an education, freedom, rights, and a better standard of life. It was something they possessed and did not realize its importance until now.

The Wall
While waiting on the bridge to return to the states the youth decided to interview one of the Boarder Patrol Agents at the check point. Silvia boldly asked the agent, “What do you think of the wall?” He responded, “It is a waste of time. People will find a way around it, over it, under it. We all live on the planet earth and we’re going to have to learn to live together sooner or later.”