Here we are, on the verge of our final morning in Detroit. One question seems to come to mind on this Saturday Eve: where has the week gone? We could give you a long summary of all the events that have guided us through the past few days, but realistically, all we can really convey is that it’s been a long, surprising, exciting, fulfilling, challenging journey, and today proved to be no exception.

                  Our first destination this morning was the American Moslem Society Mosque in Dearborn. Malik, one of our co-leaders, was able to partake in the Friday prayer service as the group watched and learned about some of the history and practices of Islam. This proved to be a welcome component for the inter-faith aspect of our trip, and as we discovered tonight, we all took something valuable away from the experience. The hospitality we were received with spoke volumes of the inter-faith cooperation that has already been long at work in Detroit and continues to bring communities together.

                  Our next step was one last visit to Earthworks to a wrap up our week of activities with a closing reflection. We all shared with Shane what our time with the organization and the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, as well in the city at large, had come to mean to us in the short time we’ve spent in Detroit. He in turn shared his perceptions of our group’s activity at Earthworks along with insights on how to continue learning about food justice and bring back some of the concepts we witnessed in Detroit back to Erie.

                  After dinner at the retreat center, we rounded off our experiences here by visiting the Detroit Institute of Art. Our group quickly became immersed in the endless displays spread throughout the massive building, and our time flew by as we examined piece after piece (and some of us didn’t even make it to the third floor). It was a beautiful and inspiring way to end the main activities of this trip, and will always serve as a refulgent memory in our hearts.

                  As we move into the final stage of our journey and prepare to head back to Erie, know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers, as always.

With love from Detroit,

Detroit ABST 2016

Trenches & Solidarity

    Today was the group’s last full day working at Earthworks.  Upon our arrival, we once again gave our undivided attention to Patrick as he explained our projects for the morning.  The group split in two as half took to prepping more beds in the greenhouse and the rest pruned berry bushes.  After these tasks were complete, we all trekked to another Earthworks plot up the street.  There the group dug trenches that will serve as birth places for asparagus for many years to come. 

                  Following our gardening efforts outside, we returned to the Soup Kitchen for our last lunch in solidarity with the guests.  Once again we were struck by the honesty of the conversations and stories that the people shared with us.  This final meal reaffirmed for the group the value of the work that the Capuchins engage in every day here in Detroit as well as the dignity of all people, no matter what their state in life.

                  To wrap up our day and our three days of experience with the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, we visited the Saint Bonaventure Monastery.  This monastery holds the tomb of the venerable Father Solanus Casey, as well as a small exhibit pertaining to his life. Fr. Casey, a Capuchin priest, was instrumental in bringing the Soup Kitchen to life. I think it is safe to say that everyone appreciated and enjoyed visiting this holy spot, a true gem in Detroit.

                  We returned to the retreat center and made good use of the leftovers from yesterday’s refulgent Middle Eastern treat. In addition, Leann and company created yet another culinary masterpiece, comprising chicken and mushrooms, a delightful supper that culminated in a Thai pepper showdown between Waylon and Christian. No clear victor emerged. And so as we prepare for our Friday in Detroit, know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.

With love from Detroit,

Detroit ABST 2016

Hummus is where the heart is.

                  In the beginning, there was food. A late start to the day gave Gannon’s Detroiters ample time to pursue a culinary refueling by way of a spread of fruits, cereals, and Leah’s most expertly prepared oatmeal which surpassed even the profound quality of the previous day’s delightful breakfast meal. This was to be just a foretaste of the glorious smorgasbords to come as the events of the day unfolded.

                  The first stop on our city-wide trek which would come to span a variety of institutions and cultures was a rising star in the Motor City: On the Rise Bakery. This altruistic enterprise, in a spirit of inspiring compassion toward the less fortunate, seeks to employ men who, for one reason or another, can only improve their standing in life by way of the precious gift of a second chance. This kind-hearted venture performs the charitable works it does on a basis of need rather than merit, giving generously to those whom society tends to cast aside in favor of more desirable candidates. We, students of solidarity, moved by all that we saw, especially the community outreach that has grown to surround and protect the downtrodden of Detroit, consummated the experience with a superbly prepared lunch produced by the very same establishment; it exceeded our dining expectations in ways as pleasant as they were unlooked-for (even if Juan is too harsh of a critic of the humble art of the cheesecake).

                  With the troops refreshed and rejuvenated, the centerpiece of our journey took shape in the midst of a cultural encounter facilitated by the National Arab American Museum. Here we found a marriage of a rich heritage unpacked and painful wounds laid bare as we explored exhibits illustrating issues such as immigration and discrimination alongside presentations of historical artifacts and expositions which were both thought-provoking and heart-wrenching alike.

                  As if God Himself wanted to affirm the value and relevance of the new culture we had just shared in, our departure from the museum gift shop was followed by our partaking in the bounty of Middle Eastern cuisine. We proceeded to wade into a veritable field of succulent succor for hungry mouths as we were introduced to a meal of unrivaled magnitude in its delectableness. This refulgent supper was received with an enthusiasm which demonstrated the appetite of a people more than ready to embrace diversity at the table of plenty. Mountains of savor were scaled by dinnertime adventurers while waves of flavor buffeted once-weary travelers with a revitalizing energy few foods could provide. Needless to say, we all left this experience with a greater appreciation for the finer points of Middle Eastern food and palates reborn in the crucible of outstanding nutrition.

                  We wound down with a reflection which furthered as well as made evident the fruitfulness of our remarkable camaraderie, which was revealed and reaffirmed in a variety of ways, not the least of which being a crash course in Kurdish dance. There was no shortage of food this day, but even more than meals, we basked in an abundance of brilliant joy. As we progress into the eventide and prepare for a new day in Michigan, know that we keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.

With love from Detroit,

Detroit ABST 2016