Gerard Thomas Straub

For Personal or Small Group Reflection

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Opening Prayer (after watching the video)

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O God, help me follow wherever You lead me.

I believe my spiritual life is essentially a journey

in which I move from what I am to what I will become.

Straub, Gerard. A Journey to Meekness: Prayer Poems and Reflections (p. 36).

Pax et Bonum Communications. Kindle Edition.
 

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Reflection Questions

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1. View the video above. What did you see? How did you feel?

2. Carol, a caregiver at an orphanage for 27 children, has been uprooted to an encampment because their building was destroyed by the 2010 Haitian earthquake. Have you ever felt displaced, physically, emotionally or spiritually? Was there a caregiver for you? Have you ever been a caregiver? What was it like?

3. When the earthquake struck, 150 students of 280 in a grammar school run by the Sisters of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus were killed. Yet one sister spoke of "living the hope." Have you ever experienced hope in the face of a crisis? What were the circumstances?

4. Gerard Straub's ministry as a filmmaker is to give the poor and suffering a voice to minister to us. Referring to the special needs kids at Wings of Hope, he said, "When you spend time with kids like this, I think you really begin to understand a little more fully the kind of self-emptying love that Christ is calling us all to." The kids and staff member KC Bersch work together to make real the promise of the resurrection. What are your dreams to make real the Reign of God for those in need? How are you the hands of Christ that gives truth to the young man's sung words, "Yes, Jesus loves me?"

 

Response

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1. Brainstorm local organizations that serve the poor in your area. Is there an opportunity for you to volunteer with friends or family members?

2. What is your greatest talent? Is there a way you can use that to serve the poor locally?

3. Discover where can you learn more about the poor and ways of caring for them. You can view for free the full length version of Mud Pies and Kites here as well as other films by Gerard Straub. He also has many books on spirituality and his journey in trying to live according to the life of Saint Francis of Assisi and the writings of Thomas Merton.

4. In 2015 Gerard Straub put aside documenting the plight of the poor in order to live with the poor. He established Santa Chiara Children's Center (and now also Academy due to the dangers of sending the children off to nearby schools). If you feel moved to donate to the center, you may donate via Paypal here, or send a donation to Santa Chiara Children's Center, P.O. Box 643308, Vero Beach, FL 32964

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Closing Prayer

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Dear God,

transform my brokenness, I beg you,

into a new life in you,

the true source of strength and wholeness.

Help me, Lord,

remove everything that blocks me

from joyfully living the good news

of the Paschal Mystery.

Amen

 

From Mud Pies and Kites (01:52:17  - 01:52:35)

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