April 6, 2020

Dear Brothers and Lasallians,

As we begin this Holy Week, we are ever mindful of our reliance on prayer as we continue to deal with the reality and impact of COVID-19. Increasingly, we know people who have tested positive. Surely, we have been praying all weekend for our own Brother, Charlie Barbush. Robert Bimonte, Community Director, spoke with the medical folks at New York Presbyterian this morning. They report that there has been some improvement in Charlie’s breathing so that, although he remains on the ventilator, he is less dependent on it. Let us all hope and pray that the improvement continues! His contracting this dreaded virus is a reminder that all of us need to follow protocols for this COVID, which is indiscriminate in whom it impacts.

This is our weekly message/conversation with you. Today we share the following points:

Community Best Practices. Last week, we shared good practices from several of our communities. Here are three more. Please continue to assess what your community is doing and what more you might do to keep the community safe and healthy through this pandemic.

Dealing with Anxiety (Part 1). Emily Cash, a psychologist working at Saint Luke Institute has an 8-minute video on how to manage coronavirus anxiety. She offers seven tangible tools, including maintaining a daily structure. We are all feeling anxiety in these uncertain times, so consider spending 8 minutes to re-inforce your best health through these weeks. Click here for the video. (In Part 2 next week, we will share 11 tools from a psychologist at Southdown Institute.)

Cabin Fever. Governor Cuomo addressed this topic during his daily press conference yesterday. The definition of this phenomenon is: “irritability, listlessness and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors.” This resonates with us! The Governor calls cabin fever “very real”, noting that the feeling of isolation is often accompanied by mood swings and resentment of people around us. With potential outbursts resulting from frustration and anger, cabin fever threatens our Constitution (according to Gov. Cuomo), where people are assured “domestic tranquility.”  Let us all be aware of the reality of cabin fever and let us find healthy ways to overcome it. (With Spring here, maybe arrange for increased alone, safe-distance outdoor time.)

Donate Blood. The American Red Cross reports that it has (so far) been able to meet immediate patient needs, but during this uncertain time, “we encourage individuals to keep scheduled … donation appointments and to make new donation appointments for the weeks ahead to ensure a stable supply throughout this pandemic.”
Worried about safety in giving blood during this time? That is understandable. Do know that the Red Cross follows the highest standards of safety and infection control. Even those of us living in “shelter in place” locations are encouraged to consider donating blood. To read more about the protocols in place at Red Cross blood donation sites, click on this link.

Hair Getting Long? It seems that our follicles are not aware that barber shops are closed during this pandemic. They keep growing. If this were the 1960’s, that would not be a problem, but perhaps you are getting uncomfortable with your ever-growing, ever-annoying hair. Maybe it is time to take matters into your own hair. Maybe.
Hair clippers can be purchased on-line for about $40. And YouTube contains many videos showing the techniques of self-barbering. Check out this video.

Holy Week. Palm Sunday was surely different yesterday. The Triduum this week will be similar. Fortunately, local parishes and dioceses are providing online liturgical services. Additionally, we would like to propose a few practices to highlight the meaning of each day.

  • Tuesday  (April 7) On this Church feast of our Founder, there will be a Prayer Service (via Zoom) at noon (Eastern Daylight Time). You can join the prayer at our website.
  • Holy Thursday. In lieu of doing the ritual of the Washing of the Feet, your community might devise some other ritual of service to one another. We leave that to your imagination!
    • Perhaps a Holy Thursday version of “Secret Santa”?  Before Thursday, each member randomly selects the name of another community member (or a community employee or another person who would benefit from such kindness). On Holy Thursday, each member provides (secretly or not) a good deed for the selectee.
  • Good Friday. A timely “Stations of the Cross” service has been provided by Ralph Bucci. It is hosted in the Prayers section of our COVID-19 information pages, the same section as the April 7 Zoom. (Thank you, Ralph.)
  • Easter. The most important day in our lives, a great day to do something special. We again leave that to your imagination, but it could be:
    • Taking quality time to reflect on the 7 Old Testament readings of the Easter Vigil.
    • Journaling, “What Resurrection means to me?”
    • Much attention has understandably been on the impact of COVID-19 upon our lives here in the USA.  Maybe Easter could be a good day to reach out to others who are in foreign lands during this pandemic. We have Brothers who have been isolated at the Mother House in Rome and at Bethlehem University in Palestine. We have Brothers in Viet Nam and Mexico, as well. And we have Lasallians in almost 80 other countries who might benefit from a word of greeting from us here.
    • Maybe be in touch with Easter experiences from your early years – have a community Easter egg hunt. (Hey, why not??)
    • Maybe enjoy an Easter-theme movie, be it secular or religious. Maybe time to view Ben-Hur 60 years later?

Let us stay relentless in continuous prayer for each other and for our one common humanity around our one world. God bless all who are on the front lines. This includes doctors, nurses, paramedics, medical technicians, hospital staff, senior care facility staff, childcare workers, personal care aides, pharmacists, police, firefighters, corrections officers, pilots, flight attendants, janitors, maids, garbage collectors, couriers, bus drivers, train conductors, postal workers, grocery store workers, receptionists, our own employees, and so many more. We are so blessed by their service!

Finally, some good news about the recovery of our Bob Schieler. His doctors continue to be pleased with the success of the transplant. Bob is likely to be released from the hospital within the next few days. (Brother Jorge, Vicar General, will send a message when that happens.) Let us continue to pray for his ongoing recovery.

Finally, of course, let us stay relentless in continuous prayer for each other and for our one common humanity around our one world.

Blessings,

Richard Galvin    Lawrence Goyette    Dennis Lee