LAKE CHARLES -- This year’s Catholic Charities Jazz Brunch featured soft jazz, the piano of Bishop Glen John Provost, and the bluegrass tunes of the Holy Mountain Bluegrass Band with Father Edward Richard, M.S., but above all provided good food and fellowship. Held Sunday, May 18 at the Lake Charles Country Club, the event is the major fundraiser for Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana.
The soft jazz tones were rendered by Chester and Jarvis Daigle, well-known in local circles with Chester on keyboard and his son, Jarvis, on the violin. Bluegrass favorites were picked out by Father Richard and Bishop Provost provided a rendition of “Time Goes By,” to the glee of the audience.
Sr. Mary Vianney Walsh, RSM, the director of Catholic Charities introduced herself. A native of Boston, she is a vowed member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich. The order came to Lake Charles at the request of Bishop Provost.
She spoke of the many things she was beginning to like in Southwest Louisiana and even spoke of “liking” the heat and humidity of the summer.
Two volunteers of Catholic Charities were honored for their Christian service to those in need.
(In the photo, from left to right, are Blanche Landry, Sr. Mary Vianney, Sr. Jennifer, and Debra Richard.)
The first to receive the volunteer appreciation award was Debra Richard. “Debra is in charge of the Food Distribution and works as a volunteer 40
hours a week.” Sr. Mary Vianney said. “ We wanted to express appreciation for all that she does but more for the way she is with the people who seek assistance.”
A painting, first found in Germany and painted by an unknown artist, titled ‘Our Lady Undoer of the Knots’ was given to Richard.
“The painter wanted to represent the thought of St. Irenaeus who was said to compare Mary with Eve,” Sr. Mary Vianney continued. “ What Eve caused by her disbelief....Mary was able to undo with her faith."
The image shows Our Lady and two angels - one angel handing her a ribbon all knotted (and representing the problems and struggles for which we do not see any solution). Mary receives the knots and quietly and lovingly undoes them, passing the smooth ribbon down to the second angel.
“We can present any problem to Mary and she will help us unravel them,” Sr. Mary Vianney continued. “Debra is naturally drawn to try to help at times, people with complicated problems or situations and advocates for them. Sometimes we at Catholic Charities can help and sometimes, if the person is unwilling or unable to help themselves at that time, she prays to Mary for them.”
The second to be recognized was Blanche Landry, who was given an image of the Visitation, by the painter Dorothy Webster Hawksley.
“Blanche also works in the areas of Food Distribution, Beat the Heat Program, Christmas Gift Baskets and coordinating volunteer services,” Sr. Mary Vianney said. “ We wanted to focus more on how Blanche relates to the people who seek help at Catholic Charities...by phone or in person.
“The image of the Visitation between Mary and Elizabeth, reflects the natural gift that women have in relating with others,” she continued. “Blanche has a wonderful way of reflecting back to a person their worthwhileness, when she listens and responds to their concerns and goes out of her way to find a resource that can assist them. She teaches us that even when we cannot help a person with a particular problem -.when we show respect and concern - the people do not leave empty-handed.”
In 2013, the most complete year available Catholic Charities provided $117,832.00 for rent/mortgage assistance/homelessness prevention program; $32,276.00 for utility assistance; $22,193.00 for the “Beat the Heat” air conditioning program.; $8,800.00 for funeral assistance; and $4,065.00 for employment/identification expenses. Food distribution amounted to 3,872 boxes.
According to Sr. Mary Vianney, collaboration with the people in the parishes of the Diocese of Lake Charles is a top priority of Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana. In recent months, two meetings of parish social ministers have been held with representatives from at least 20 of the 38 parishes in attendance. They share the ways their parishes serve those in need, and they agreed to meet quarterly to continue the collaboration.
The Catholic Charities Advisory Board includes Ex-Officio Members are Bishop Provost; Deacon Edward Lavine, Interim Secretary for the Ministry of Pastoral Services; Sister Mary Vianney; Advisory Board Leadership, Larry DeRoussel, chair; Anthony Bartie, vice chair; Alison Fontenot, secretary; Glen Bertrand, Ryan Bourriaque, Sandy Gay, and Rev. Jeffrey Starkovich. Staff includes Shirley Walker, Case Manager and Gloria Hypolite, Office Manager.
