Pass the Bucket

Steven Patzke, Viri Morales, Br. Michael McLoughlin, Bryana Polk, Br. William Fecteau, Katie Christensen, Br. Joseph Reilly, Br. Edward Phelan, Ron Jovi Ramirez

Most reasonable humans over 60 years of age who look at the college team dumping ice water on the head of the winning coach smile and hope it never happens to them. They fear the shock would kill them on the spot.

Bill gets the ice

Well there were no deaths in the Bronx recently when each member of the Bedford Park community took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. At the beginning of each year we spend a weekend of prayer, reflection and sharing to get to know each other, and to map out ways to live more intentionally. It’s what we call our Community Annual Program. This year’s special emphasis was to figure out ways we as individuals and as a community might go beyond our comfort zone — or as the Brothers’ General Chapter said, “Go over our borders.”

The ice bucket challenge was certainly beyond our comfort zone. It was in honor of Br. Bill’s brother-in-law who was recently diagnosed with ALS. The challenge is a popular item on Facebook and great way to raise money for a good cause, but also a sign of something much deeper in our community psyche. The rapid embrace of this idea by our older members — the Brothers — is very significant. It symbolizes their contribution to the community commonwealth. It’s the willingness to look like a fool and go along with a bizarre idea to support a cause to put oneself out there for someone else’s idea; to get and give a good dose of simple fun and to laugh one’s head off at the whole idea! All major ingredients of a wholesome community or family.

“As the Program Coordinator at Serviam Gardens I know a lot of people as old as these Brothers and none of them have the amazing energy of these men,” says Lasallian Volunteer, Katie Christensen. “Bill gets back from the community shopping on Saturday mornings before the rest of us get up — a weekly event that he has been doing for 40 years.”

Michael gets the ice

LV and Community Member Ron Jovi recently told a friend who asked how the Brothers get to work: “Michael and Joe get up before dawn to catch the subway for their hour and a half commute to their mission in Brooklyn. It’s the longest commute of any Brother in New York City.”

Recently a stray cat made its way into our basement for a few days. This gray little bundle of problems eluded detection for quite some time. “I knew we were near a solution when Br. Ed said ‘no problem,” says 2nd year LV Bryana Polk. “This means ‘I do not know what to do now, but will have a solution in very short order.’ Sure enough, he found a neighbor with a ‘Have a Heart’ trap and the little pain-in-the-neck was sent back to its friends in the wild.”

First year LVs Viri Morales and Steven Patzke are the newest members of our community about to start their mission at La Salle Academy and St. Raymond’s respectively. “The fact that these men are vibrant and full of life is living proof that they must have embraced the bumps of life along the road,” says Viri, a recent graduate of St. Mary’s College and student of adult psychology.

I get the ice

A product of the rich Jesuit tradition at Loyola, Steven says: “In just a few days I have learned these men are a key source of advice on how I can negotiate my new position for the benefit of the young men and women in St. Rays parish.”

The younger members of our community revere and respect the Brothers and treat them as elders that is reflective, prayerful, thoughtful, insightful, and wise men. This special honor impels the elders to be young at heart and fully alive.

Pass the bucket!