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Joel
My work at Our Lady of Black Rock is very fulfilling because I am teaching and coaching, vocations which I have been attracted to for a while. The highlight so far is snapping Our Lady of Black Rock's five-year stretch without a baseball win. On September 27th, the Defenders beat the best team in our division, undefeated before our 15-14 win. It was our only victory of the season, but that season was certainly a success: thanks to the dedication of our players, parents, coaching staff, and fans, the young student-athletes improved dramatically in terms of baseball skills, teamwork, mental and physical toughness, competitiveness, and belief in themselves. Next up is basketball, and I am very excited about having more opportunities to share and teach the values of hard work, being a good teammate, and love of the game. My work at Providence Community is also very fulfilling because I am seeing first-hand what a caring community for the "least of these" looks like. The senior thesis I wrote at the end of college was a reflection on some experience I had working in a nursing home in Los Angeles. That experience was very troubling because the nursing home was such a lonely place, and it really bothered me that such a nursing home was the best community we have to offer people at the end of their lives. Providence Community is so refreshing. It's a setting in which people with "obvious disabilities" ( i.e. cerebral palsy, mental retardation, etc.) live in community with people with "less obvious disabilities" (i.e. the deficiencies and weaknesses we all have). The director, Sister Rose Mary Cauley, is an inspiring role model for a life of tireless service, and the residents are inspiring too. Working at Providence almost never feels like work: I just help out around the house, hang out with the people there, eat dinner, and head home for bed feeling good about things - until I wake up the next morning and get kicked and/or punched in the crotch by little kids all morning. Choosing to spend this year in the DSC was a very difficult decision for me. Buffalo is very far and different from Portland. The contrast between simple living and my life at college is stark: I don't always eat when I'm hungry now, I don't always have music on, I'm not always easily in touch with my friends by cell phone, etc. Also, I am not a Catholic, was not raised in any church or particular religion, and never imagined I would find myself reading the "Act of Contrition" over the public address system to end the day at a Catholic grammar school. But although I only speak Christian as a second language, I can certainly buy into the pillars of the program: service, social justice, simplicity, community, and intentionality. And after studying theology and ethics in college, the DSC is a satisfying and challenging exercise in "walking the walk" of service and reflection. My time here is challenging and fun, so I am learning and growing a lot, and I am very thankful to everyone who is making this experience possible: from the program director, the DSC Advisory Committee, our support people and mentors, and the Diocese of Buffalo, to our neighbors, new Buffalonian friends, and everyone whose donations and contributions are funding my housing, food, transportation, etc. In particular, I feel fortunate to have such a solid group of fellow DSC members to share the year with, especially in my house. Rowena, Melissa, John, Tori, Da'Niel: thanks for being my home away from home, bringing it around all the time. |
My
name is Joel, my hometown is Portland, Oregon, and I am a member of the
Diocesan Service Corps 2006-2007. In May, I graduated from Pomona College
in Claremont, California, where I studied religion and played baseball.
Now, I am the Physical Education Teacher, Baseball Coach, Basketball
Coach, and Athletic Director at Our Lady of Black Rock School here in
Buffalo, New York. I also work part-time at Providence Community, a group
home for adults with developmental disabilities. And after my year in the
DSC, I intend to either continue coaching and teaching, or begin graduate
study in either law or religion.