Beignet Brothers

There is beauty in our apostolates. Such a great joy it is to see our kids question their faith in order to strengthen it, rather than to tear it down as the world does. It really is a blessing to witness.

But today, after experiencing the joys that our apostolates have to offer, we take the time to wind down and join in community with our brothers.

As previously mentioned in another blog, Sundays are a chance to do something special at dinner for your brothers. And we like to do these things...that is what help keeps the family loving. Tonight, many of us pitched in to make the dining room a little more elegant--candles and some sweet table settings, jazzy music in the background. It was a nice touch to add to Fr. Armand's wonderful food. (He tends to spoil us every Sunday by cooking something extremely delicious.) Added to the dinner was the dessert--beignets. Being from New Orleans, it meant a lot to have some homestyle food.

And this is a beautiful thing about community--everyone wants everyone to feel at home. We work, we play, we laugh, we live as one. We share in each others' joys and each others' pains, though recognizing that only the Lord can truly save us. We rely completely on His Love in order to truly love one another.

May you be blessed this night and all nights!
We cannot thank you enough for your prayers.

Posted by: Jared R.

The Battle of the Dining Rooms

The following blog was inspired by the FOOD Network:

   Sunday--the glorious day of the Lord. It is also the day where both dining rooms (Sons of Mary and the Brothers') challenge each other to making dinner especially special. We call it: BATTLE OF THE DINING ROOMS! Where one brother and one candidate risk it all to make their brothers' days that much more joyful. Whose dining room will rule supreme? Only time will tell.

   And what a glorious reflection this is of religious life. We constantly push forward in holiness, calling on those around us to step it up as well. And hopefully, when all is said and done, we can all meet to enjoy the beautiful feast--the heavenly Jerusalem--with all those brothers who came before us and the many, many to follow after us.

   There was no clear winner in this epic battle, but isn't that like the heavenly race as well? We aim to achieve heaven with fervor and with endurance; but, at the end of our days, we don't put so much weight on who arrives first. It is about making it there successfully. So thus, after discovering this truth (and after the lack of judges), we determine the battle to be a successful stalemate.

   It is my hopes that this blog was both an uplifting of the Salesian way of life and an expression of our great joy of living together in community. Until next time, keep the joy!

St. Dominic Savio, pray for us.

Posted by: Jared R.