Read on for a few facts regarding Lantern Light Ministry.

COUNTDOWN TO LACE CURTAIN NIGHT

Become part of the International Irish Famine Commemoration this Friday

at the Irish Cultural Museum of New Orleans

In recognition of the International Irish Famine Commemoration the Irish Cultural Museum will host a fundraising event featuring food, history and music this Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. in the 900 block of Conti Street. Members of the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club will parade through the French Quarter at 5 p.m. to kick-off the Lace Curtain Night street event that will feature samplings of dishes from popular New Orleans restaurants. Guests will enjoy cuisine from K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen, Le Foret, Reginelli’s, Dickie Brennan’s restaurants, Finn McCool’s, Drago’s, Parkway Bakery and Tavern, and others during the special heritage celebration.

The evening will include the premier of An Gorta Mór: the Great Hunger at the Irish Cultural Museum. At 6 p.m. visiting Irish Minister of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphries will officially open the exhibit, which was made possible through funding by the Emigrant Support Programme of Ireland. During the Famine Commemoration the museum will display a bronze sculpture by renowned Irish artist Rowan Gillespie, who executed the dramatic Famine memorial on the Custom House Quay in Dublin. Gillespie’s The Victim, on loan by Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University, represents those who died from starvation and disease during the Irish Famine of 1845 to 1852. In recognition of historic and modern day hunger the Irish Cultural Museum will also feature a Hunger Awareness art exhibition.

     Highlighting the evening is a special performance by The Poor Clares, one of the city’s best known Irish bands who are reuniting in the Crescent City for the 2014 International Irish Famine Commemoration. Twenty years ago members Betsy McGovern, Patrick O’Flaherty, Justin Murphy and Beth Patterson brought the music of Ireland to New Orleans in a distinctive style that was said to mix County Down and deep down South. Lovers of Celtic music won’t want to miss this reunion of The Poor Clares.

Presented by the St. Patrick Foundation, a portion of the proceeds from Lace Curtain Night will benefit the Lantern Light ministry at the St. Joseph Rebuild Center, which provides food and assistance to the poor and homeless of New Orleans. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at www.icmnola.com or at the gate on the night of the event. For more information call 504-481-8593.For information on the International Irish Famine Commemoration in New Orleans November 6 – 9 visit www.ifnola2014.org.

Lantern Light will be selling Gumbo and Shepherd’s Pie. The income from the sale of these items will help us feed our daily guests.  For the past two weeks we have had over 200 daily for lunch.

We look forward to seeing you at the Irish Fest.

Last month we let you know of a way that individuals, organizations, and companies could donate a gift certificate, unique gift, or priceless item to attract bidders and help raise funds for their favorite non-profit organization. The program is put on by Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company is called Auctions in August. As of 8/25/14, over $59,000 has been bid to help local charities.

Lantern Light Ministries has been named the benefactor of one item. Photography by Marianne Hawkins Sabrier has donated a photo session and a 16×24 inch fine art gallery wrapped canvas to one lucky high bidder. One hundred percent of the item proceeds will come to Lantern Light. You can find the item at http://auctionsinaugust.com/aaAuctionItem.asp and search for “Lantern Light Ministries” on the Charity drop down menu. You can take a look at Marianne’s work on her website here.

So if you’re in need of photography or know of someone who is, please consider bidding or passing this on to others who may also be interested. But hurry, the auction ends on 8/29/2014 at 8pm.

Do you have goods or services you’d like to donate to raise money for Lantern Light Ministries? Well there is a unique opportunity to make those donations during the month of July to raise funds in August for our cause. Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company is hosting Auctions in August. Individuals, organizations, and companies are encouraged to donate a gift certificate, unique gift, or priceless item that will attract bidders and help raise funds for your favorite non-profit organization. You can read about it by clicking here. During the month of July, bring your donation valued at $50 or more along with a completed donation form (available here). Making your donation as soon as possible provides the best opportunity to have it listed online and insures the most amount of exposure. Items will be displayed and be available for bids from August 1st through the 29th at Gulf Coast Bank branches as well as online. Download the How to Donate Letter here for more information.

Even if you can’t donate, please check out the auctionsinaugust.com after August 1st.  You might find one of your favorite charities the benefactor of your winning bid. Thank you for your continued support of Lantern Light.

As most of you now know, our Lantern Light staff will be losing three members.  This also means that our community will be losing two sisters.  When we first opened our community in New Orleans, we were a community of 5 and now we are down to two.  Unfortunately, as of right now, no new sisters will be entering into our community.

This is a new and unique challenge for us and we need as much help as possible.  We appreciate our volunteers, Donna, Girlie, and Sylvia for taking on roles with our food bank and art program.  We ask our friends and volunteers to keep our community and our ministry in your prayers.  If you know anyone that is looking to volunteer, please let them know about Lantern Light Ministry.  We will especially need help during lunch time (from 11:30-1:00).  We need a physical presence in our courtyard with our guests as we line them up and feed them.

Please pray for young people to enter into a life of vocation.  Unfortunately, all religious orders are seeing a decline in numbers.  We encourage you to ask those around you if they have considered religious life.  Often, people don’t think of religious life unless someone else points out that they may have gifts to suit the lifestyle.

Please enjoy the song Who Will Light the Lantern as a meditation when praying for our congregation.

Who will Light the Lantern?