PBMR: the New Creation
Rayshawn (nearest/left) and Shawn preparing a meal for the youth at Precious Blood Center. Photo by Sr. Donna Liette, c.pp.s.
Being the Village It Takes
by Fr. Dave Kelly, c.pp.s., pbmr Director
We have all heard the phrase, “It takes a village….”
It is usually in reference to community support for
young people who do not have the structure or over-
sight that is needed. The axiom has persisted because
we know that the breakdown of family has been and
continues to be a contributing factor to many of our
societal problems, in particular among our youth.
Even after all these years of working and living
in communities plagued by extreme poverty, I am
amazed at the ability of our young people to maintain
some sense of daily life. There is, truly, a great deal of
strain and struggle in the lives of so many youth.
Larry is a kid who participates in almost any
program he’s invited to take part in. Even as others
might balk at an education program or a “commu-
nity cleanup day,” Larry is always willing to join in.
He is so cooperative and easy-going, that we often
overlook the depth of his loneliness. Our attention
seems to focus on those who obviously cry out for
support and intervention.
A staff member recently called and asked if I could
help Larry with some food. It was a Saturday and she
wasn’t in the office that day. Of course, I agreed.
Within a few minutes of the call, Larry was at the
Center. One of the young men, Shawn, who is training
12 • The New Wine Press • July 2017
to be a chef, was in the kitchen preparing a meal for
our Mass and event the following day. I asked Shawn
if he would help me get some food out of the pantry
for Larry. We packed up a bag of soups, pasta, cans
of ravioli, and other items that would be easy to heat
up and cook. As we were leaving, you could tell Larry
wanted to take some cereal as well, but not much good
with no milk. I told him I would take him home, and
on the way we would pick up some milk.
On the way to Larry’s house, Shawn, Larry and I
stopped at Food for Less to pick up some milk and a
few other things—peanut butter and jelly, etc. During
our “shopping spree” I asked Larry about his upcom-
ing graduation from 8 th grade. He almost immediately
asked Shawn and I if we would like to have a ticket to
the ceremony. Apparently, no one in his family was go-
ing. Shawn immediately said, “Sure, Bro!” I was not as
quick, but said if I could, I would.
Shawn thought about his own graduation and then
asked, “What about those shoes?” He said it in the way
a big brother would watch over his younger sibling—
with care and concern. It was obvious that Larry didn’t
have shoes or any of the clothes necessary for a gradu-
ation ceremony. So, sure enough, from Food for Less