House of Charity

The Spirit of New Orleans
By Emily Meyer

Emily Meyer, a graduate of Seton High School and the College of Mount St. Joseph, returned to New Orleans in June for her second service trip with the Sisters of Charity Federation.

My experiences in New Orleans, La., have always brought me closer to my faith. I felt the presence of God volunteering in the city in August 2007, and once again, I found God’s spirit and the human experience intertwined as a participant in the St. Bernard Project’s Nuns’ Build in June.

I learned about the project from S. Monica Gundler, who knew I was interested in returning to New Orleans. We have shared numerous conversations about the pull this city has for both of us.

This was my first stay at the House of Charity. The experience of living with only Sisters turned into a wonderful week. The House of Charity was welcoming and it felt like home while I was there. I lived in community with a group of Sisters from across the country and I can only say that it was normal. We had discussions on topics from the oil spill to the NBA finals. I could not have asked for any better hospitality or support from the Sisters. The fact that we knew we had a home-cooked meal from S. Renee was another great welcome home at the end of the day. We spent time praying, discussing our work, and processing the circumstances in order to gain perspective on our week.

During the days we worked with many other women religious from across the country, and even a few from outside the United States. I was one of the lay men and women who attended. The work was difficult and rewarding with every minute. We were preparing the house for paint, which involves smoothing the walls out with mud and later sanding the walls, and repeating the process until the walls eventually begin to show progress.

One evening we were at dinner, which was prepared by a number of local families, and it was there that I was the most touched during the week. Our dinner was followed by a slide show presentation by one man and it was about his family’s experience of Hurricane Katrina and the flood that followed. The pictures were dramatic and emotional. My attention was caught by the mention of heroes on earth. Do they exist? The answer was an unconditional “YES.”

One of the first groups to respond for this family and their community was that of high school students. They raised money for backpacks and school books. Instead of simply sending a check, they sent a large bus full of school supplies. Sometimes all you need is action.

This is where the focus hit home. People cared that a city was destroyed and thousands of lives needed to be put back together. One fundraising attempt by high school students sent the message that people care, and people still care. The room full of women religious and lay people from all over the country also proved that angels do indeed exist. I saw women working on walls, volunteering their time for others, and picking up skills which they never knew existed within themselves. The spirit of the city affected us all and many of us will never be the same after our week in the Big Easy. What you learn when you go to this city is that the people are good people and they are thrilled to see that others care.

Currently, the whole area is affected by the recent oil spill. The hardest part for me is being back in Ohio where I do not see the updates on a daily basis without searching. It is easy to get caught up in the daily events at home, but I know I will not forget. I know there are wonderful people at the St. Bernard Project who care enough to spend their days building houses and raising money to work to rebuild the city.

Hurricane Katrina occurred nearly five years ago and progress has been made, but not nearly enough. With the oil spill and the many unfinished houses still waiting to be rebuilt, the pull for me is strong. I do not know for certain what my continued connection to the city will be, but I certainly know that I care. I care about the people, the Sisters and the St. Bernard Project. The angels are the people who work every day to keep New Orleans in the minds and hearts of those who can make a difference. They continue to work with the spirit in the city. I am grateful for my opportunity to return to New Orleans and to relearn what faith and hard work really are. I met many amazing men and women who joined forces to change lives. It was only one week, but the results show in the houses and the hearts of everyone who was present.

 

back to top