Saturday was the Winter Solstice & I was fortunate to spend it at a Capuchin Prayer & Service Advent Retreat.  The Capuchin Prayer & Service Days were started in NYC after Hurricane Sandy, when many members of Capuchin Youth & Family Ministries (CYFM) in Garrison, NY wanted to come down to NYC to help out with relief efforts in the Rockaways. The Prayer & Service Days and Weekend Retreats have continued ever since. It’s great to see this ministry of service continue in the true tradition of...

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It’s Thanksgiving Eve. I spent the day at the St. Crispin Friary as the friars and volunteers gave away 425 turkeys and bags of food to community members.  Hungry people lined up outside the church and we gave them tickets, recording their names, to ensure each person only got one. The St. Crispin Friary in many ways feels like an extension of CYFM, but different because they actually serve the poor and needy through the friary & St. Anthony Residence, while CYFM ministers to Catholic famil...

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Ever since I was part of Capuchin Youth & Family Ministries, a Franciscan youth ministry center in Garrison, NY, during high school, I have always thought of the lifestyle of St. Francis an admirable one.  Retreats centered around St. Francis and St. Clare and led by friars and brothers who have devoted their lives to following in the Franciscan path made my times spent at CYFM more than memorable. It's no wonder my CYFM friends alluded to the retreat center as a "heaven on earth." We were ca...
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I'm a fan of Gandhi.  I'm particularly inspired by his famous quote "You must be the change you wish to see in the world" which has been and continues to be the theme of my blog.  However, I was even more impressed recently when I came across his "Seven Deadly Social Sins" on a poster from Sojourners.  I was able to purchase a copy of the poster at The Justice Conference in Philadelphia last month.  These are the traits Gandhi considered to be the most spiritually perilous to humanity: 

• Wealth...

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Here is an epic memoir of Andre Christopher Rivera, a youth who was empowered to create positive change in his community in the Bronx through the guidance and mentorship of Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice.  His story means so much more than mine because he grew up in the Bronx.  A short film has also been made with part of his story: Andre's River  

Vote for Andre! 
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My name is Andre Christopher Rivera. I am 19 years old, and I graduated from Lehman High School CLASS OF 2...

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4/14/12
Leave It Better had been teaching youth about environmental stewardship and growing food in PS 306 / MS 331 in the Bronx when one of the teachers suggested they do something with the vacant lot across the street.  Dominique and Graham decided to transform the lot into an official NYC Department of Parks & Recreation GreenThumb garden. It's incredible to see the work they've done to build community and involve residents - especially youth - in growing food and transforming the formerly ...
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Yesterday I joined a bike caravan on a trip with South Bronx Unite and Friends of Brook Park to see the points of access (and lack thereof) to the South Bronx waterfront, culminating in an excursion to Randall’s island for some canoeing.  We started off at Brook Park on 141^st St & Brook Ave, where about 30 of us gathered with our bikes.  Brook Park recently got a grant from the NYC Council, which allowed them to purchase some bikes for the community’s use – so exciting! 

 

We set off go...

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