Successful Adele Social Justice Project (ASJP) Weekend

Held in the St. Louis Metro Region on June 15-17, 2007

Sr. Leanne Jablonski is part of a planning team for the Adele Social Justice Project (ASJP). The most recent immersion happened in San Antonio, Texas. Check out the news update.

An empowering ASJP Immersion weekend was hosted at the Marianist Volunteer Program (MVP) Community Hubbard House in East St. Louis, IL. Eighteen young adults participated including fifteen currently living in or moving to the St. Louis area and three who hope to plan justice immersions elsewhere (Texas, California and New York/New Jersey). Participants brought a wealth of Marianist experiences including Marianist high schools, LIFE, St. Mary's University and the University of Dayton, MVP, Cape May Marianist Family Retreats. Also attending were friends of participants and young adults from local parishes and justice programs including former year-long volunteers.

On Friday, neighborhood members oriented us to East St. Louis. Saturday immersions included: International Institute St. Louis where we learned about refugee and immigration issues, St. Louis Catholic Worker Community and Urban Farmer's market and service with an East St. Louise Catholic Urban Programs (CUP) ) family. We shared challenges and wisdom we experienced in Living Simply including our choices for the weekend of vegetarian and local food. Sunday sharing was about our "Passion" for Justice, "Saying Yes!" and the vision for a young adult lay community in the St. Louis Metro region focusing on the Marianist Charism and Social Justice.

This was the third young adult ASJP immersion bringing together young adults to build Marianist community based on justice experiences. Previous immersions were Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati in June 2005 and DC in Fall 2006. The planning team of Dan Stout (Chaminade-Prep), Addi Velasquez (MVP), Sarah Holtz (recent Washington U grad) and Brian Halderman, SM were joined by ASJP team members Laura Libertore (ASJP staff), Leanne Jablonski, FMI and Jim Vogt for presentations.

For information on future ASJP programs or to join the ongoing young adult initiatives in DC/Baltimore or St. Louis see http://www.msjc.net/AdeleSocialJustice/default.aspx or contact Laura, Beth Jamieson (DC) or Dan Stout (STL).

Reflection on the ASJP Weekend

by Addi Velasquez

Across the bridge they came, native St. Louis-ans mixed with travelers from other states, to the illustrious city of E. St. Louis; to an old convent-turned-volunteer house, in a quiet neighborhood. The weekend started well with homemade pizza happily coaxing people into conversation before our program began. Two wonderful guest speakers came to give us a glimpse of the area we would be residing in for the duration of the weekend. Prayer ended the evening and helped to get us started our next day. Before going across the bridge into the city that morning, we learned what it meant to "Join Voices WITH the Voiceless", and the importance of listening to others. We discussed our wonderful experiences together that afternoon before we got into the Marianist Charism and learning about Adele and her life of social justice. An excellent dinner of vegetarian chili was enjoyed by all (we went all veggie all weekend- the food was so flavorful, us carnivores hardly missed it! And some good discussions were prompted by this decision). Our night finally ended up with a rousing game of St. Louis trivia before ice cream and bed. Sunday brought more people to our group, and we dove wholeheartedly into Mary's example of 'Saying Yes!', letter writing, and a good brainstorming session on how we envision this group of young adults continuing (it looks like we got a good start!). We ended our time together with mass in the basement - how true the benediction rang out that day. Go out to love and serve the Lord!

Addi is a Marianist Volunteer and St. Louis ASJP Planning Team member.