At 3 pm each day, John Joyce (22) reviews the day’s assignment with his class of 7th graders. For them, a review is often a new view. Some even stay later after school for extra practice in math. Most of the children at De La Salle Blackfeet in Browning, Montana, get this level of special attention at some point each day — its the reason why their parents want them there.
PRAXIS
With names like “Makes Cold Weather,” “Many White Horses,” and “Running Crane,” it is easy to realize they were born in Montana to parents who have spent their entire lives on the reservation.
John grew up in Pittsburgh, went to Central Catholic High School, and graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, before ending up at Blackfeet on assignment from the Lasallian Volunteers. It’s the most challenging thing he has ever done, and close to 50 other men and women are doing the same in 25 locations across the country.
One would think having several excellent teachers in high school and college—along with a supportive learning atmosphere at home, a degree in Latin American Studies and Geography, and work tutoring high school students in the Youth Arts Group in the Hudson Valley—would guarantee success for John at Blackfeet in Browning. Not quite. Over the past few months, John has begun realizing that the success of his work with children has less to do with his qualifications and more to do with how the children engage their world.
He uses the word praxis to describe the process of change in the kids—and himself.
Praxis the word used by Paulo Freire: “There is no true word that is not at the same time a praxis. Thus, to speak a true word is to transform the world.”
He defined praxis in Pedagogy of the Oppressed as “reflection and action upon the world in order to transform it.”
“For myself—and I think those of us serving as LVs and teaching in schools—this statement is made more apparent as we examine our daily interactions with students, our methodologies, and our lessons,” says John. “How to find truth is far from clear, but the constant search for it helps me to consider how to best present my true self to students, and in so doing, make some positive impact on their lives.”
John has had to “go deep” within himself to assist the young people of the reservation acquire a critical awareness of their own place in the world. It’s what De La Salle had in mind long ago.
An event at last summer’s Orientation for Lasallian Volunteers—held at Lewis University just outside Chicago—may be partially responsible for John’s new awareness. It was a day of guided imagery, reflective writing, small and large group sharing, and workshops on dreams, poetry, journal writing, art, and music. All 50+ Lasallian Volunteers had the time, place and tools to “go deep” and experience their inner selves. Many and varied are the ways this experience has deepened their spirituality since.
ASKING QUESTIONS
Mairead McNameeKing (22) is a Lasallian Volunteer who helps connect young men and women at De La Salle North Catholic in Portland, Oregon, with jobs and employment.
Each student works one day a week as part of their school curriculum. Her struggle to encourage them to get the most out of their employment experience—and to treat each other with compassion—has led her to reflect on where God is in her life. She calls this the BIG question and proposes questions that help answer the BIG question:
What did my joy look like today?
What did love look like today?
Where did I see growth?
Where did I falter?
When did I doubt?
When did I feel lost?
Where did I find strength I didn’t know was there?
Where did I receive help from somebody else?
Where did I find a sense of humor? A moment of peace?
How was I true to myself?
How did I respond in times of trouble?
How did I make myself open to the needs of others?
What was I called to do today and how did I react?
How can I become more vulnerable?
She betrays a deep understanding of Lasallian spirituality; namely, that God is imminent, personal, always present, never separated and sometimes silent. To “go deep” for her is to realize how close her God is. Mairead makes her own the words of Mary Oliver: “Love yourself. Then forget it. Then, love the world.”
God comes to us not only in our story but also through students sharing their story and particularly if it includes pain and suffering.
LIFE EXPERIENCES SHARED
Kristen Brenner (23) a Lasallian Volunteer at De Marrillac Academy in the Tenderloin section of San Francisco “goes deeper” when her students share their painful life experiences.
For her speech class, one student spoke about being taken from home by the police only to learn two days later that her mom had died. Another saw her brother assaulted in front of her; and a third was able to capture the effect that poor health has had on her young life.
“I had no idea of what was going to be said. It almost caught me off guard,” says Kristen. “My comments to each was ‘you are so courageous.’ I felt speechless. Their stories were so moving.”
“It was a huge reminder of why I am here and what these children have faced already in their young lives. I was so proud of my students and happy to have created this sacred space. Personally, getting wrapped up in my everyday duties often prevents me from ‘going deeper.’ But times like this open my eyes, expand my heart, and connect me with people.”
THE DASH
“Out of all the prayers, reflections and music that I’ve discovered this semester,” says Sean Ruane (22) “the most influential and thought provoking resource that I’ve come across is a poem called The Dash. The poem is about making the most of your life and is truly one of the most powerful pieces of literature I’ve ever come across.”
This poem captures for Sean—a Lasallian Volunteer teacher and coach at La Salle High School in Yakima, Washington—the deeper significance of the volunteer experience.
Living in an intentional community for the past six months with other volunteers and Brothers has encouraged Sean to reassess his life and his values. Linda Ellis, author of The Dash, captured it for him:
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
There is something very special about this Lasallian family that would inspire young recruits like John, Mairead, Kristen, Sean and many others to “go deeper” in ways unfamiliar to more experienced Lasallians just a few years ago. Special recognition goes to Lasallian Volunteers staff for creating many experiences throughout the year that sharpen awareness of the spiritual dimension of life. This depth of spirituality has added immeasurably to the Lasallian mission today and will stay with these young men and women for the rest of their lives.
Brother Ed Phelan, FSC, has lived and worked with Lasallian Volunteers and Brothers for most of his adult life. He believes the LVs make a major contribution to Lasallian spirituality in our day.
Brother Ed, ROCK ON!!!!!!!!