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In
Search of the Spirit
A
monthly letter from the Glenmary Vocation Office
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October
2002
Poverty
in Abundance
By
Father Steve Pawelk
“Ricardo”
is 17. He makes $7 an hour and works 40 hours a week.
One paycheck he sends home to his mother in Mexico.
The next one he gives to the aunt he lives with here.
Then he keeps the next paycheck for himself before beginning
the cycle all over again. In short, he keeps only one
third of what he earns.
"Micky”
was 16 and living in a car when I met him. He was a
drug addict and alcoholic. He ran away from home at
13 because the abuse was so bad. After placing him in
treatment for a month to deal with his addiction, our
mission church helped him with a deposit to rent a trailer
for $75 a week – which should tell you the condition
of his “house.” We found him some used furniture,
and he is now working for minimum wage at a local fast-food
place.
These
two young men live in Glenmary home mission territory.
They kept coming to my mind at our annual Glenmary gathering
in August as we reflected on that part of our Oath that
pledges us to poverty. For
more about the Glenmary Oath.
What
is a promise of poverty in light of their realities?
These two young men, whose names I have changed, challenge
my personal response to God’s call to live simply.
As
a Glenmarian I do not need to worry where I will sleep
or what I will eat. I am free to develop my spiritual
life and pursue my commitment to service in rural America
because of Glenmary donors. As a member of Glenmary,
my theology studies were paid for; I have access to
a car; I am provided with health insurance, housing
and food.
Furthermore,
as a member of the Pawelk family, I also have a great
deal of freedom. My aging parents, though not wealthy,
have an adequate income in their retirement. And my
seven brothers and sisters who live near my folks are
available to them when necessary. That allows me to
dedicate my life fully to the people of the home missions.
I
am far wealthier and free of worry than the average
person; yet it is I who promises a life of poverty.
Father
Neil Pezzulo, pastor of Holy Cross Church in Crossett,
Arkansas, says, “Poverty is the hardest to live
of all the promises.” The reason: Though financially
we do not have lots of money in the bank, as Glenmarians
we have so many other benefits. Yet, since we work daily
with the poor, our desire to live poverty is very strong.
The
evangelical promise of poverty is a billboard calling
all to a life of simplicity in the spirit of the gospel.
Jesus said, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky
have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his
head”(Luke 9:58).
In
order to imitate the life of Jesus, Glenmarians strive
to do all they can to witness to a simple life. We do
this in the things we choose to have or not have, by
tithing from our small allowances, by how we furnish
our houses, by the type of cars we drive. Moreover we
try to develop a spirituality that fosters openness
and availability to all, that places value on people
and relationships rather than on things and ownership.
We
also try to foster a greater awareness of the poor in
our midst and around the world. We try to proclaim,
both in word and deed, the “preferential option
for the poor” which dominates Jesus’ ministry.
As some of you know, I travel regularly to Mexico to
support our aspirants there. In Mexico the average adult
salary for a five-and-a-half day workweek is $30 (U.S.
currency) while a month of education costs $60. That
means it takes two weeks of work for a parent to send
one child to preparatory school (grades 10-12). And
there are even poorer nations than Mexico.
So
what do I spend $30 on? What do you spend $30 on? Two
CDs? A concert ticket? Three videos?
Ricardo
and Micky live poverty because they have few choices.
Religious, including Glenmarians, live poverty in the
midst of an overwhelming number of choices. As Glenmarians,
we hope that by freely choosing to live simply through
a promise of poverty, the bonds of poverty that limit
the options for those like Micky or Ricardo will be
broken.
“The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed
me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me
to proclaim liberty to captives…”(Luke 4:18-19).
