"It is in the shelter of each other that the people live." --Irish Proverb

Wow. I can say without one bit of exaggeration that I just had the most wonderful, intense, and life-changing week of my life.


I spent a week with six other SLUdents, a lovely Sister, and a former Brother. I was at a place called Hope House in New Orleans, LA. Hope House is located in the neighborhood that used to be the St. Thomas Projects. Sister Lilianne and Brother Don run the place and reach out to everyone in the neighborhood, helping them and being helped by them in so many ways. Seriously, Sister Lilianne and Brother Don are real-life superheroes.


We began and ended each day with reflection. One night during reflection, I brought up one of my favorite quotes by Mother Teresa: "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." I've loved that quote ever since I first heard it, but I didn't fully recognize what it meant until this week.


The next morning, the quotes and readings that Sister Lilianne chose for our readings all surrounded the idea of belonging to each other, quite coincidentally as she had not been at the relflection we had the night before. During this reflection, I had my big revelation that turned into the theme of my week: we are all brothers and sisters. No, I know you've heard this a thousand times. But really, we are all literally brothers and sisters, it's not a figurative thing.


One time my friend/roomie, Hannah, asked me what it was like to have brothers. I'd never really thought about it before. I have a connection with my brothers that I have with no one else. We were raised together, we love each other, we would do anything for each other. If someone hurts one of my brothers or says anything negative about them, I feel hurt and upset myself, as if that person had directly hurt me. In the same manner, if one of my brothers accomplishes something, I feel so proud, as if I had done it myself. That is what siblinghood is to me. Tom and Chris are my brothers, and I am their sister. But wait. Everyone is supposed to be my brother or my sister. Every single person. I couldn't believe it. It was so simple. We are all brothers and sisters. I should be hurt any time anyone hurts any other human being, and I should be sky-high whenever anyone succeeds. Because we all belong to each other, we are all brothers and sisters in this world and we are all called to act for justice, to serve one another, and to love each other as siblings do.


Sooo, after that big revelation, I challenged myself to see everyone on my trip with me and everyone I met as my brother or my sister. And let me tell you, it hasn't been easy. But it will come, it will come. I know that with God's guidance and love, I will be able to see every individual as my brother or sister.


Aside from this, we had a beautiful trip. Our group, of "originally seven wonderful strangers", meshed unbelievably well together. I had two beautiful and wonderful leaders and friends in Briana and Rachel, and I found love and friendship in Zip, Claire, Paul, and Anne. I have been truly blessed to be a part of this group and am so grateful.


Here is a picture of us standing outside Hope House with Sister Lilianne, Brother Don, and Patrick.

Love to you all, my brothers and sisters.