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Family in a Van: A Wild Adventure Still Unfolding
We were excited when we got the initial phone call from Courtney Hayes-Jurcheck and her husband John Jurcheck, both 40, who were traveling across the country with their sons, Luca, 5 and Oliver, 9. They left their home in Denver to volunteer on farms and WWOOFing sites living in a 1987 Vanagon. They wanted their…
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Daunte Wright… Say His Name
The day after Daunte Wright was killed by a Minneapolis policewoman Agape folks travelled to our customary protest vigil station in downtown Ware at Veterans Park. We came to protest the killing of Daunte and support his family, the Black Community in Minneapolis and indeed the entire Black Community through the United States as…
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A Song Over the Land: Finding Our Prophetic Voice
(A compilation of reflections offered by Agape co-founder, Suzanne Belote Shanley during the weekend Lenten Zoom Retreat sponsored by Mary’s House co-founders, Jim and Shelley Douglas, March 19-21.) The opening theme of this weekend’s retreat, “The Earth is Weeping” defines our collective pilgrimage together, close to 200 of us on this zoom, in what poet…
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Felipe Witchger Visits Agape
Felipe Witchger is a long-time friend of Agape who participated in the first group of graduate students ten years ago, who comprised what they called themselves, The Creatively Maladjusteds. Felipe’s wife, Casey, went to Notre Dame, where they met. Casey was here for an internship sometime in her junior year. She was an animator and…
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More Workday Photos!
About 35 people joined Agape members for a memorable day with cords of wood work put up from our Agape trees as they sacrificed themselves for us. Skip Schiel captures in a series of photos: We loved having the Just Faith Community for the 12th (or so) year of faithful community caring and…
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Visit with Bobby and Jim
This past Friday, June 19th, Agape was thrilled to welcome both Bobby Karle SJ, newly ordained Jesuit, and Jim Robinson, long-time member of Agape’s Mission Council (Advisory Board) for their weekend visit. They arrived mid-afternoon with bright smiles and open arms filled with joy and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. The hustle and bustle of…
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A Wonderful Work Day in the Books!
Last Saturday, June 12th, Agape Community hosted our first large Work Day since the beginning of the Pandemic. Support was strong as friends gathered from various places to help prepare the garden for the summer season as well as collect and split wood for this coming winter. Despite the threat of rain early in the…
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“Escaping the Final Pandemic” by Dean Hammer
Escaping the Final Pandemic By Dean Hammer ’78 M.A.R. The spiritual “Let My People Go” rises from deep inside of me during these days preceding the celebration of Passover. Moses follows God’s instruction to confront Pharaoh’s domination of the Israelites. Moses’ chutzpah and prophetic imagination galvanize a liberation movement. Pharaoh refuses to release the Israelites…
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Katya’s Family Visits Agape for the First Time
Our intern, Katya’s family visited Agape this past week. Brayton gave them a tour of St. Francis, St. Brigid House, and the garden before we enjoyed a nice lunch together where we learned about the Portuguese Island of Madeira, where Katya’s family on her mother’s side, is from. The visit reminded Brayton and I of…
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A Blessed Visit and Reflection
Sr. Melina Pellerin SSJ and Just Faith member, Cheryl Moynahan, visited Agape together for a rousing conversation on race matters in Springfield, MA. Sr. Melinda also shared the following reflection: Joseph, the father, the disenfranchised, the refugee, the dreamer. In my living room, above my flat screen television is the artist Lara James’s beautiful…
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