April 3, 2008

By Michael Turco Rhodes College Senior

In a surprising trend nationwide, more and more college students are giving up a traditional Spring Break for one of service, reflection, and devotion. This year, local area colleges are no exception.

The Catholic Student Organizations of the University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University, and Rhodes College banded together to form a unique team of 19 students and two religious facilitators to serve the continually suffering citizens of New Orleans. Although more than two years have passed since Hurricane Katrina, the area is still crippled by the effects of the storm. It is estimated that recovery efforts will take at least ten years for the city to be completely restored.

Prior to Spring Break, the students went to local area churches to solicit donors and support for the New Orleans trip since they were responsible for their own expenses. They were impressed with the enthusiastic support of donors.

In the short span of eight days, the students from Memphis worked in the Lakeview area, gutting pre-existing structures, re-building interiors and helping with landscaping. Housed by the St. Paul's Homecoming Center, a building partially operated by Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, the students experience echoed Christ's words "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matt. 25:35), for not only were they welcomed by those housing them, but by the entire community.

As Amanda Hoeffken, a Math major from Rhodes College noted, "Going to New Orleans was a rewarding and exhausting experience. The community of Lakeview was welcoming from the moment we arrived and the people were thankful for our work."

The area was devastated when the levee near Lakeview collapsed flooding the location for more than three weeks, with water rising nearly two stories at its highest peak. The local Catholic Parish of St. Dominic retains an unusual reminder of the flood. The statue of Dominic at the front of the Church's narthex retains a watermark that nearly bisects the statue. Miraculously, the floodwater's highest point reached just below the high altar, preserving the tabernacle from the damaging waters.

Celebrating Mass at ST. Dominic's was one of the spiritual highlights of the trip. Not only was the parish beautifully restored, it was full on Sunday morning. The New Orleans area has a high concentration of Catholics, unlike Memphis, and so seeing so many Catholics at Mass was a moving experience for the Memphis students.

During Mass, the deacon's homily struck home and reminded the students that: "We as Catholics stand for something," a message oftentimes blurred and forgotten in the daily rigors of life. It was in that spirit that the students shared their experiences with many other Christian denominations who were taking part in the Lakeview effort. Doctrinal divisions were put aside in order to find accord in the Apostle's words "For you are all one in Christ" (Gal. 3:28). In this shared unity, the students demonstrated their faith and hope, by being Christ to one another and to the family of God in New Orleans.

John Stagich, a Political Science Major from the U of M said, "It was great to help out people in need. I was amazed at how resilient the people in New Orleans were, and how they were determined to rebuild their city."

Though the mission has ended, it has also in a sense begun, as many of the students, after experiencing firsthand the trials facing the people of New Orleans, have considered becoming a part of the community there.

"I would encourage everyone to go to New Orleans and help out. There is still much work to be done and you will feel so blessed in having done it," added Stagich. "In doing so, perhaps each one of us can experience the love of Christ first hand, and bear witness in taking up a small part of the Cross for our brothers and sisters down the Mississippi."