The first meaningful Christian image for me at a young age was my guardian angel.

I prayed to this angel every day and knew he would be there for me no matter what. I felt God at that time was busy with many things but this angel was always near.

As time went on and life got more complicated I realized three things about these angels; first, despite all the art depicting angels helping children, I knew they were just as present and helpful to us adults. Second, angels are beings of energy and goodness that personify God’s love for us. Third, our lives on this earth are just too complicated for just one guardian angel. We each have many and Aquinas pointed out this is especially true for those special people who experience difficulties and hardships in life.

One such special person is about to graduate from La Salle University in Philadelphia on May 17 — Bianca Perry, a strong young resilient women. Note the glow of her angels surrounding her graduation image.

Her story in her own words follows and then a few of her Lasallian angels; those exceptional creatures she has embraced who have helped her be her best self. Lasallians are often commissioned by God to keep an eye on young people. On November 18, 2014 the university held its first Awareness and Service event on Hunger and Homelessness for staff, students and neighbors of the university. Bianca Perry gave the following keynote address that day.

– Ed

 

bianca-webIn her own words, Bianca Perry shares her personal story (from a La Salle University speech).

Imagine at five years old you had to share potatoes between you and your siblings because there was nothing else to eat. Imagine having to yell out the window for a stranger to bring you fruity pebbles and milk. Imagine the pain in your stomach going days or even weeks without food.

…what it feels like to suffer from hunger

Imagine being in the third grade and being homeless. Imagine sitting next to friends who laugh at how bad you smell. Imagine them telling you that you needed to take a shower. Imagine being picked on. Little did they know, you didn’t have a roof over your head, a place to call home, or a shower to call your own.

…what it feels like to suffer from homelessness

Imagine having to sleep in a homeless shelter with old people, young people, children, and even babies. Imagine when those homeless shelters are too full. Imagine on odd cold winter nights sleeping in a van with your Nana because there was nowhere else to go.

…what it feels like to be poor and alone.

Imagine overcoming being homeless only to become homeless again. Imagine being in high school with three jobs and still being poor. Imagine having to couch surf and the burden it has on families to sleep on their turf. Imagine worrying about the next place you’re going to sleep instead of doing your homework or getting to school on time.

…the cold, the loneliness, and the feeling that comes with homelessness

I may not look like your stereotypical homeless person but you’ll be surprised. No, I wasn’t sleeping in cardboard boxes or begging for food. But I did struggle with homelessness and hunger on many different occasions. You never know who can be homeless or hungry. It can be your co-worker, your classmate, student, friend, or even your family. My advice to you?

Open your eyes because this problem is bigger than you think.

People aren’t homeless or begging because they are too lazy to get a job. Take me for example, I had three jobs in high school and that still wasn’t enough to pay for rent or other necessities. I went through homelessness because my mother was addicted to drugs and this affected me mentally, physically, and emotionally. My experiences made me determined to get an education and break the cycle of poverty within my family.

I didn’t get to where I am without the help of counselors, teachers, and the Lasallian community. That being said…

You can make a difference!

Angels to the Rescue

Throughout her life, Bianca has been known for an extraordinary resilience that has delivered her from hunger and homelessness and inspired her with the strength of character to be successful in school and in life.

She has skillfully used many resources offered to her by the good people of her town and especially her high school of La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island. Like all angelic creatures they have just one name — Lasallian Guardian Angels. These Lasallians usually work together to be of maximum help to their human counterparts. Always like good lovers they leave their earthly partner free to accept or reject their help.

Heather and the School Angels

By sophomore year at La Salle, Bianca was managing work and school quite well while being basically homeless. Heather, a social worker on the staff, figured out her situation. She affirmed Bianca’s personal and academic skills, expanded her employment to nearby Dunkin’ Donuts and found her safe and secure housing in St. Joseph’s Community. “After that I made it a point to check in with her every day and exchanged cell phone numbers so I could keep in touch outside of school,”  says Heather. “It was through that experience that Bianca and I began to form a bond–I would pick her up from work at Dunkin’ Donuts or McDonald’s, when she worked late or early, so she wouldn’t have to walk or take the bus.”

It’s called accompaniment. In any high school, academic support can make a huge impact—angels Gregg and Patrick were always available. Heather describes it as, “I provided her with a stable adult presence and encouraged and supported her already present drive for success. I didn’t really do much more than be present for her and make sure she didn’t fall through the cracks.”

Another Lasallian angel, Don epitomized this presence when he noticed Bianca was rather upset with a staff member just moments before receiving her high school diploma. As a good conflict resolution angel, he called a huddle with Heather, Dianne (yet another angel) and Bianca, and the compromise worked out. Bianca proceeded to became the first in her family to proudly accept a high school diploma.

Michael and the Domestic Angels

Being an archangel by nature and a Christian Brother by vocation, Michael moved at angelic speed to help with housing for Bianca while she finished high school. His Brothers, along with the men and women Lasallian Volunteers of the St. Joseph’s Community, all extended a warm welcome to this young woman. This gesture gave Bianca a chance to reduce her employment to one job and to do well in school. With the help of these angels of her high school years, Bianca was able to act on her determination to get an education and break the cycle of poverty.

Lisa and the Family Bond

With Heather’s help, Bianca met another special angel during her senior year at La Salle. Lisa was the CEO of Foster Forward, an agency that provides supportive programs for kids who have been involved in the foster care system in Rhode Island. At the time, Lisa was looking to mentor someone and she reached out to Bianca.  Over time, Lisa and Bianca’s relationship evolved into more than a mentor/mentee relationship and into a family bond. Lisa has supported Bianca emotionally and financially and welcomed her into her home and family.

Kevin on the RISE

Long before high school, perhaps in the second grade, Bianca met her first angel. Kevin is the cofounder of RISE (Rhode Islanders Supporting Education). His organization raises money to send children with incarcerated parents to private schools in the state (including Lasallian schools La Salle Academy, St. Raphael Academy and San Miguel of Providence). RISE covered most of her tuition from 2nd grade on, and Kevin has been invaluable to Bianca for most of her life. In May 2013, Bianca’s mom died unexpectedly. When the La Salle community (under the lead of Brother Michael, Matt, Christine, Maggie and Father Michael) rallied around her with their own personal and financial support, Kevin stepped up and covered the remaining funeral expenses. These angels were instrumental in making sure Bianca was able to properly honor her mother’s life.

Michael and the University Angels

In her final years at La Salle University in Philadelphia, another angel Michael joined her team. As president of the university, he saw to it that she received scholarship aid, tuition assistance, grants and work study to make it possible to earn her BA degree. Tim, an angel from Providence, made a very significant contact for her with the Big Guy Foundation to substantially support her in college.

Yet another angel, Kate, routinely met with Bianca and helped her negotiate college life situations with understanding and insight. Bianca has potential to finish with a 3.5 GPA and a remarkable record of community service to those in need in the Philadelphia area.

Becoming Angel

A long time ago when a young Jewish woman said yes to an angel’s request, her world and our world changed forever. Bianca said yes to her angels and her world has been changed forever. Now time will tell how our world will be changed. Even before graduation she has applied and been accepted to Lasallian Volunteers, a way to change our world. Imagine: she will be part of an intentional community of like-minded men, women and Brothers living together for the purpose of helping young people learn to be their best selves. Her incredible gift to them will be her resilience and her uncanny ability to welcome and appreciate angels.

Ed-Head-faviconBrother Ed Phelan, FSC, 74, credits his own angels for surviving several close calls in life as well as for the inspiration to generously share his gifts with young women and men in need.