Gospel and Jazz on the Lawn - Alafia Place, Minneapolis

One of the most remarkable people I have ever met is Mary Johnson.  Mary's son was killed many years ago by another young African American man. Years later, Mary, who knew her Bible, and who knew Jesus's admonition to us that we really must forgive those who have wronged us, went to the prison where her son's murderer had been living for 10 years. She spent two hours there getting to know him. And out of that encounter, she forgave him.

.

He is now out of prison - and both live in Alafia Place, a little apartment building in Minneapolis. One of my most wonderful experience here in Minneapolis was attending the annual "Gospel and Jazz on the Lawn" event a couple of weeks ago; it was hosted by Brian Mogren, director of St. Jane House, the Visitation Sisters spirituality center.

The evening included a wonderful dinner, a beautifully decorated garden, and fantastic music, featuring Robbie Robinson, a wonderful gospel singer.

The event is held yearly to support the ministry of Mary Johnson, the founder of From Death to Life. Mary has pulled together the mothers (and some fathers) of young people killed by violence in this area - and the mothers of those who have committed violence. They meet regularly at St. Jane House for healing prayer and community. During the course of the evening, Mary called up the members of her community, and, one at a time, they spoke the names of their children, and told when and how they lost them - because, as Mary says, the mothers of both the victims and the victimizers lose their children. It was a beautiful sight to see.

Mary and Oshea Israel, the young man she forgave and now calls her second son, go together to speak to young people, or to people in prison. Mary went to Washington, D.C. recently to speak to the question of whether minors should ever be sentenced to life in prison. The Supreme Court Justices, as we now know, agreed with her that teenagers have not yet developed sufficiently to be fully responsible for their actions, and that, therefore, it is unconstitutional for them to be sentenced to life imprisonment. I am told that Mary has been invited to Assisi, Italy, to speak at a conference on forgiveness sometime this year.

I am so delighted to get to meet her - and visit with her from time to time, because she does show up at Visitation often, and is a good friend of the Sisters.

She's an amazing woman, and a real inspiration to me. Because I, too, believe we are called to forgive our enemies. I don't find that easy - but if Mary Johnson could forgive Oshea Israel, I should be able to forgive those who haven't done me  anywhere near that kind of harm.

So in support of her ministry, Brian Mogran hosts this wonderful party each year: Gospel and Jazz on the Lawn. What a wonderful, vibrant group of people were there! Mary's group, the sisters from Visitation Monastery, neighbors, friends, and supporters. It was marvelous and fun!

 The music was incredible. Robbie Robinson's voice is like liquid velvet chocolate! And his marvelous faith pours out of him and into all his listeners! I've never heard anyone that inspired me more. And before the evening was over, I was dancing, too!  With the sisters! With Brian!

When Mary's friends started sharing, there was hardly a dry eye in the town! Those women - and some men - have truly suffered and have chosen to forgive. Wow!

The sisters' charism is to "Live Jesus," and it just happens that way in North Minneapolis! Mary says "forgiveness" is the new "f-" word. I hear it a lot in this neighborhood - mixed into the cacophany of violence and anger and poverty and troubles. Makes me experience that "the Kingdom of Heaven" is truly among us. We live in mystery of good and bad - but when the good shines out it is truly amazing.

 Before the evening was over there were games. Miss Linda (Goynes) who is a Visitation Companion was the grand winner! She's dancing up a storm here in celebration (pink sweater). (I so wish I could have shared the music with you, too, but if you don't sort of hear it while seeing these pictures, I'd be surprised.)



And, of course, there had to be one round with Brian and Mary. And finally Sr. Mary Frances took the floor with the rest and the dance went on into the dark of night.

Who would have guessed that nuns had so much fun???






As we left, we passed the "Memory Tree," where earlier in the evening, pictures of children lost to violence in the neighborhood were displayed.