St. Bonaventure's recruitment slogan is "becoming extraordinary", but for anyone that witnessed the amazing work that took place during today's International Service Day, the feeling was BEYOND extraordinary... Here's a summary of what my day entailed. A small, relatively insignificant contribution globally, but something that made an amazing difference to the people we helped, as well as in me personally...
Began the day at 6:30 AM rushing to get things together for what I had already anticipated would be a busy day. Packed the power tools in the car, scraped the ice (yes, ICE) from the windshield and pulled out from the house around 7 AM. As today's efforts were in Buffalo, I filled the car with gas, filled my cup with coffee and sped off to meet George, a long time friend and father figure at his house to disassemble the canopy he was nice enough to donate to the BonaResponds group. George is the type of guy that would invite a total stranger to the house for dinner, he's just THAT nice of a man and I have always respected and envied his commitment to his faith and the values that guide his life. He reminds me of all that is good in this world. Upon arrival at George's house, he happily threw on his coat, boots and hat (it was somewhere around freezing at his point in the morning) and joined me on his back patio. After rummaging in the garage for some sockets and a wrench, he tossed on his knee pads and dropped to ground to wrench out the bolts that secured the canopy to the concrete. I continue to be amazed at this man's generosity and vigor for helping others. The bolts released, we muscled the canopy over the hedges and into the yard, where we proceeded to collapse the frame, fold the cover and bag up the goods in the back of the car. All told the process was a cold, but painless 15 minute demonstration of George's commitment to the greater good.
Tent in tow, I headed back into town to pick up Brian, my bosom pal of nearly ten years, who I convinced that joining me today would be "good for him". By this point its around 5 till 8 and I'm starting to worry that we won't be to Bonaventure in time to meet the larger group traveling to Buffalo. For the sake of time, I chose not to swing by the office and collect the camera and newspaper clippings of the Haiti Crutch project. I regret this, as we ended up with ample time.
Arrived in Olean promptly at 830 to find around 50 students in the Murphy auditorium listening to Jim's recap of the day's local jobs in Olean/Allegany. I'm sure many of them would have rather gone to Buffalo to be part of the bigger event being held there, but his student leaders selflessly stepped up to lead the local crews while the rest of us disembarked. As a side note, I saw Brother Ed today, a Franciscan Friar I met nearly a year ago through one of my MBA professors. Someday soon I'll ask him to make time for me, as he seems the type one could talk to without feeling put out.
The ride up to Villa was absolutely beautiful with the sun shining through the clear, cold spring sky. Brian and I of course continued our work to solve all of the world's (and our own) problems during the drive up, and I especially enjoyed this morning's banter with my best friend. After a few minor course corrections, we arrived at Villa right around 1030, where there were already approximately 70-75 students getting ready to head out to the job sites. After a quick run down of the available sites and a pep talk from Jim, it was off to do good in whatever way we were needed.
Brian and I debated only briefly about which job site to sign up for. While I initially had hoped to work at the St. Francis Center, a home for young men who need shelter, we had met Sarita, a board member with the Bob Lanier Center who convinced us our help would be needed. That being said, we headed toward the sign up sheet for same, but were promptly distracted by a small group of 3 students standing around an otherwise empty sign up sheet for the St. Columba-Brigid Youth Center. Introductions were made, names were posted and we headed off to what we thought would be the building of a garden in memory of Sister Karen Kilmczak, a nun that devoted her life to given others a second chance, who was murdered on Good Friday in 2006 by one of the very men she worked with as part of her mission. You can hear an interview with Father Roy on NPR from 2006 by clicking here. I encourage you all to listen, as its a very moving story, and Fr. Roy truly captures her spirit in his description.
Based on the description of the work site I had received prior to arriving, I envisioned our group helping to take up sod, plant flowers and the like along side the youth from the center. Nothing could have been further from the truth when we actually arrived, as the garden had already been planned for and their were no youth to be found beyond the basketball court across the road from the Church. LOL Nonetheless, with open hearts and ready hands we quickly fell under the direction of Paula, a long time parishioner who instructed us on the cleanup and organization of the Church's outbuilding and the moving of materials from the outbuilding to the Church proper. After a brief meet and greet with Fr. Roy (below left, Kyle right) it was time to commence the workday.
Our fellow volunteers included Kyle H., a student at Villa, Bud, his friend and band mate, and Stephanie, another Villa student majoring in music. Brian and I were both impressed with their willingness to help and their enthusiasm for volunteering. While we were 10 years their senior, they showed a quiet deference to our experience and suggestions when appropriate, while we in turn deferred to their youthful energy, physicality and ability to fit in small spaces.
We began by shuffling and re-stacking the Church's collection of around 360 nativity scenes, displayed at Christmas. The scenes were stacked in boxes, three folding table "shelves" high as pictured below, and required moving to make more space in the work room for other activities that occur outside of the holiday season.
That being done, it was time for a lunch break. Our hosts were too kind in providing lunch beyond the PB&Js we had been given at Villa, though their generosity did not go unnoticed. Lunch turned out to be a blessing of fellowship and laughter. Below you can see Kyle (left) and Bud (right) enjoying the feast of subs we very much enjoyed.
Following lunch, we began the process of moving books from the outbuilding to the Church proper where the Parish will soon have both a child's and an adult library. There were several cart and dolly fulls that needed moving but we got it done and the Church will be more easily able to finish the project. At some point, the sulfates from the sandwiches began to affect our judgment, and we couldn't resist dressing this otherwise ordinary wise man in an old choir robe destined for the trash. He caught our eye initially for his brilliant coloring, but kept our extended attention based on his wearing of what appeared to be red women's pumps. Whether historically accurate or not, our group along with the ladies from the church had a chuckle at his expense. All in good fun.
Our many other tasks today included sorting books to be moved, organizing and moving candles, records and any number of other Parish collectibles, and literally moving Jesus (there were several tabernacles that needed moving) from one building to the other. We wrapped the day up by helping Fr. Roy disassemble and reassemble around 150 bulletins for the Palm Sunday masses that had been stapled together incorrectly. In all, a great deal was accomplished, even if we couldn't fully appreciate its impact. Paula, Fr. Roy and the others were very thankful and invited us back next weekend, just in case we were at a loss for something to do. LOL
We returned to Villa for the "all hands meeting" where groups reported back on what they had accomplished. It was ASTONISHING!!! Students had painted walls, cleaned buildings, picked up trash, organized costumes, helped with props, met with locals and so much more. While I knew we had accomplished a great deal in the eyes of those we were working with, collectively, we had in our own way, changed the face of Buffalo. More importantly, as a whole, the volunteers from across the globe that answered the call to serve changed the face of the world one microcosm at a time.
To end our day, students from the Moving Miracles program performed a dance routine to the music of Susan Boyle's rendition of "I dreamed a dream." They were wonderful and served as an amazing thank you on behalf of the Buffalo community.
I mentioned at the start that today changed my life for the better. Today something clicked. Today wasn't work. Today gave me a feeling I want to experience again, everyday, for the rest of my life. Certainly I was tired, but it was a good tired; I felt fulfilled for the first time in a long time and I want to stay full, I want to keep that feeling. While we were at the Church moving books for Fr. Roy, I came across the title "The Lessons of St. Francis" by John Michael Talbot (with Steve Rabey). The book, which Fr. Roy was kind enough to give me, is about how we can bring simplicity and spirituality into our lives through following the example set for us by St. Francis. Simplicity, Joy, Humility, Creativity, Community, Compassion, Service and Peace... all lessons we can learn from the life of a man who lived 800 years ago, and exemplified by the actions of a volunteer group from western new york.
Thank you BonaResponds for the opportunity...
"I feel all the richer because of my work with them, [not for them, but with them]." -Sister Karen Kilmczak
-Nate
Photos from today's event can be found here...