Board of Directors 2016

Mark F. Cass, PresidentExecutive Director

A.C.T.S.

Randy Wolken, Vice PresidentPresidentMACNY

Howard Triche, Vice PresidentBrewing Technical Training

Manager at Anheuser-Busch

Mara Mulligan Roberts, SecretaryDirector of Individual GivingYMCA of Greater Syracuse

Linda F. McHugh, TreasurerVP Finance

CADimensions, Inc.

Andrew S. LunettaExecutive Director

A Tiny Home For Good, Inc.

Eileen M. ClintonVP Risk Management

Brown and Brown of Empire State

Tim McCarthyBoard of Advisors

Jail Ministry

Jay BarryOwner

James J. Barry, Jr., CPA

Dan QueriDQ Consulting Services

Owner

Robert J. StreetProduct Line Manager

Anaren Microwave

Eunice WilliamsVP/ Chief Diversity Officer

Onondaga Community College

Kevin T. FrankExecutive Director

Fr. John SchopferPastoral Director

404 South Avenue Syracuse, NY 13204

Tel. (315) 472-9077bradyfaithcenter.org

In the fall of 2012, Andrew Lunetta introduced me to the Pedal To Possibilities biking program, and now, three and a half years later, my life revolves around our Monday/Wednesday rides and Fridays at Brady Bread Bakery. A lifelong teacher, I didn’t realize how small the circle of my life had become in the whirlwind of teaching responsibilities, after school activities and commitments with family and friends. When I retired and joined the Peddlers, I then understood why Jesus spent so much time with the homeless, the ill and those marginalized by society. I have met, up close and personal, the God I taught about as a religion teacher for over 40 years. They are real. Their vulnerability has melted my defenses;

A Ride That’s Changed My Life

Spring 2016

by Marilyn Goulet

“Ride” continued on page 4

Meet Rhasheim Rutledge

Tell us about your faith story. When I was young, I went to church with my grandmothers. But the event that affected my faith the most happened this summer. I was shot in my arm on June 7th at a house party by an intoxicated person who started shoot-ing randomly. After the shooting, I lost my job even though the doctor said I could work with one arm, because my employer disagreed and fired me. At that time all I had left was God. I healed

from the shooting and I’ve just found part time work. I love to work and am so grateful! Now I’m so glad to be sitting here with you joining a community where things can be changed. I believe in God and always try to be on the right path.

What are some of their strengths and challenges of these neighborhoods? Strengths are organizations such as Brady and O.G.s (Old Gentlemen against violence), groups of people who can stand up for something different and do what I call “being on the out instead of the in,” which means helping people get out of the problems and into a better lifestyle. Challenges are certain people with their intentions on doing things that are harmful on the streets. Some people don’t stand up for the right things or for bringing change.

Where do you get nourishment and support for your faith? From my grandmothers, my mom, and coming here to Brady Faith. Instantly after I was shot, I decided to come to church every Sunday. It is a big part of my faith life.

Talk about your hopes for you and your family and friends. I hope to stay on the right path, to keep working, to stay away from certain objects, to con-tinue to work on me, and to make music and support my kids. I hope my children become

“Rhasheim” continued on page 3

Rhasheim grew up in Central Village, on Kennedy St., Onondaga Ave., and now lives on Bellevue Ave. He has been regularly attending Sunday liturgy at Brady and shares his story here.

In the middle of February, spring and summer feel like a distant dream, but come April, the urgency of life springing forth can be an awakening, shaking us out of the winter doldrums and forcing gardeners to catch up quickly to the pace of life. With more light and rain, our preparations hasten to transform nineteen vacant lots into a verdant urban farm. Our farm site occupies land currently zoned as residential. With the help of Home HeadQuarters, we submitted an application to the City of Syracuse to allow the property to be zoned for agricultural use. We strongly believe that these lots are ideal as a farm, and more importantly, an urban farm is the best use of lots for the community. While we wade through the legal hurdles, we are steadfast in our preparations for the upcoming growing season. This spring we will begin installation of water lines and a fence, and construction of a tool shed, packing shed and cold storage unit. Some diseased trees will be removed, and native shrubs will be planted in wet areas. Serviceberry shrubs and ornamental flowers will be planted along part of the fence line. New soil and compost will be tilled into rows to prepare for late spring planting. We are looking for volunteers to help us till the turf, deconstruct pallets that will be used for a packing shed, remove litter and brush, install the fence, and plant crops. We also will need access to a pay loader, dump truck and tiller in late March/early April. Get ready for Spring! Join us on April 23rd, for Brady Faith Farm’s Spring Fest! There are lots of opportunities to get involved in this community building event. The Annual Syracuse Grows Resource Drive will be using the farm as its hub for loading and delivery of compost to take to community gardens. Volunteers can help shovel compost and wood chips, drive pick-ups or help us or other community gardens prepare for spring. Spring Fest, hosted by Brady and students from SUNY ESF, will include family-friendly activities to inspire people to explore nature at the farm site. We hope you can join us on April 23rd. Please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Brady-Faith-Farm-Project-for more event and farm updates.

Brady Faith Urban Final Site Plan, Year 1. We hope to grow over an acre in our first year.

Greenhouse36’ x 48’

MovableGreenhouse36’ x 48’

(36) 6’ tall perennial fruit shrubs

225’

14’

126’

80’ Crushed gravel

49’ 41’

16’

12’

20’ x 10’

20’

crushed gravel

ConcreteDriveway Opening

14’

32’ 20’

Tool Shed 12o sqft

12’

15’

16’ metal gate

Concrete Sidewalk

Concrete Sidewalk

Edge of Existing Pavement

Edge of Existing Pavement

2’4’

Con

cret

e S

idew

alk

Compost

Loading/Parking

2’

9’

4’9’

55’110’ 110’ 110’

198’

171’

402’

Sign 15 Sq ft

5’

10’

53’

4’5’5’

Packing Shed

22’ x 32’

Lean-to15’x20’

Porta-potty 10’

x

x

x

x

x

110’

110’ 110’

110’

110’

110’

110’

Brady Faith Farm Site Plan for Year 102/23/2016

Brady’s Urban Farm Springs to Lifeby Jessie Lyons

Fund Development CornerThere are a number of generous ways you can have a real impact on the work we do at the Brady Faith Center:

• Host a friend or fundraiser• Give through your company’s corporate gift matching program or workplace campaign.• Designate Brady as a beneficiary in your will, charitable trust, life insurance, or other personal financial accounts.• Donate stock or other securities as gifts. To find out more about these and other giving opportunities, please email Kevin Frank (ktfrankbfc@gmail.com) or Arnie Artessa (aartessabfc@gmail.com), or call Brady Faith Center at 472-9077.

Thank you to our board member, Eileen Clinton for organizing “Spin for Brady,” held on Feb. 28, and raising over $500 .

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• Cindy Heath and St. Joseph’s Confirmation class for volunteering at our faith formation classes.• Beverly Vernett and Christina Toomey for coordinating the team who provide soup for Brady to enjoy after our Sunday liturgy, and to all of the providers!• Joan Wozniak for cooking and coordinating the team from St. Matthew and St. Peter that makes meals for our Wednesday night Men’s Prayer group, and to the cooks: Anne Deland, Beth Zimmerman, Terese Prebish and Melissa Spenser.• St. Joe’s the Worker for providing bread and groceries for our community.• Dick Gaston and the St. Joseph Knights of Columbus Council 5398 for continuing to provide regular pancake breakfasts during the holidays that are enjoyed by so many.• Wendy Marsh from Hancock Estabrook and Terri Luckett from Home Headquarters for their professional advice and counsel in the urban farm planning process.

• To all parishes who supported Brady’s Christmas gift giving including: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Most Holy Rosary parish and school, Immaculate Conception in Fayetteville, Holy Family, and St. Mary’s in B’Ville• Anderson Barney and Associates for giving us the space to house gifts and coordinate distribution.• Mike Galvin for helping to coordinate the delivery of all of the Christmas gifts, and to all of our deliverers.

Thank you to...

Christmas Gift Giving Thanks

Come and See: An Eye-Opening Experienceby Eijuel Flowers

My Moment At Summer Servants

There are instances in each of our lives that we can remember instantaneously and immediately say, “That’s it… that is the moment everything changed.” For me, my moment happened during Summer Servants. If someone had sat me down a year ago and told me I would find my moment while spending my days in downtown Syracuse and spending my nights in the downstairs of a church I had never stepped foot in before, I would have laughed in their face. Yet, that’s where it was… my life-changing moment. At Summer Servants you do a lot of volunteer work as you play with kids or help out by doing manual labor like minor home repairs or gardening. As the week progressed these little responsibilities changed more and more in meaning. Each weed I pulled, each meal I served, each small child I swung onto my back and ran around with opened my eyes just a little wider. I was stunned. I had lived in Syracuse my entire life, but somehow I had never seen these beautiful people with even more beautiful stories and struggles so near to me. As I dove deeper into my relationships with these incredible people that I served with, I dove deeper into my relationship with God. It was when I walked and talked with His children that were struggling the most that I truly came face to face with Him. The people I helped during Summer Servants helped me open my eyes, and when my eyes were finally wide open that’s when I had my moment. I saw God.

Summer Servants 2016: July 10th-15th and July 17th-22nd

Group registration info at: www.summerservants.com

by Gabby Kielbasinski

the best people in this world. I hope that they avoid all the violence and change how they see me from someone who got shot to a person on a different path.

What are you most proud of? My kids. They are good kids who sometimes have a tendency to do their own things. They teach me a lot. Whenever they learn something new they try to share it with me. I’ve learned to listen to them and not always be the adult that pushes something on them. When I was new to parenting, daddy was the boss and they had to listen to me. Now, I first give them the option of explaining themselves and then we talk about it.

What are your dreams? I dream to pursue my music, live a healthy life and stay out of harm’s way. I dream to be the best father I can be, and have a nice home I can come home to with nice things. I dream to have people around me who I enjoy and who enjoy me.

What do you believe that people in the wider community can learn from your stories? I always say people helping people. If you can reach out to someone, anyone and help them bring a change to their life than that would be good.

Rhasheim Cont’d

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Eijuel (pronounced: I-JU-EL) has been involved with Brady Faith Center for five years and is a Servant & Teen Lead-ership participant. He became involved through the Norma Triche Basketball Clinic (4 years) and as a big brother to his sisters who participate in Vacation Bible School. He has been a volunteer at Youth & Family Outreach, Faith Forma-tion, Mass and VBS. Recently, Eijuel and the Justice Walkers attended a Come and See (Workshop 2), and here is his testimony:

At our Come and See Workshop, I expected a talk about Brady and its new programs, so I was greatly surprised when it was more. I battled tiredness to learn that Brady

folks visit and help the inmates at the Justice Center. I was awakened when I visited the “Ox” Catholic Charities Men’s Homeless Shelter and the Samaritan Center. There I saw people of different experiences, economical statuses and lifestyles in the same place and relative situa-tion. The Ox was a GOoD experience that taught me where people can go if they need help or a place to stay. I felt sad to see them in need of so much. I was sympathetic to their plight in life and I had a revelation: I don’t want my friends, fam-ily or myself to end up in that situation. The smiles on faces as we arrived were heartwarm-ing; they got me over the overwhelming feel-ing of wanting to run. A month later our Justice Walking leader-ship group took our learning into action and served lunch at the Samaritan Center. The folks we conversed with were some of the most welcoming people I have ever met out-side of Mass at Brady. Brady has been like a second home to me and at the Come and See Workshop I got to see parts of Brady and its partners in ministry that I never knew existed. It made our Justice Walkers service feel more necessary and beneficial.

Brady’s Justice Walkers advocate for urban jobs

Mark your calendars and please join us at:SpringFest: Saturday, April 23rd

Bike for Brady: Sunday, June 5th

Brady Breakfast, Sunday, October 23rd

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Ride Cont’dtheir acceptance has created deep bonds. They really are family to me. I look forward to seeing Bob, Mark and Tony every week. Dolphus is always the brother with the eye on the team. “The Good Shepherd!” And there’s James, Gary, Art, Jeff, Brian, Darrell, Bob, Rupert, Mike, Mario, Dan and Rev, our self-appointed security guard. Ted is visiting his sister in Florida and writes frequently. (We

miss you, Ted!) There are the very special women involved with the ride as well: Debbie, Judy, Juanita, Robin, Anna and Theresa. And the incredible support riders: Roy, the kindest young man, our leader; Len and Bob who have provided our community meal since the beginning; Patrick and Rich, our newest rider, Arnie and our marvelous cook, Julia. There are so many who make up this incredible community. They are all in my heart. I wish I could name them all here. We find so much joy along the way. I’ve learned so much from all of them. Richard teaches me

the beauty of the warmth of the sun in winter and Tim showed us all how love and friendship are most important in life. They teach me to keep my priorities straight, to live more simply, to buy humbly and to share. Showing up and being fully present is what life is all about. In their circle of love, I have found the meaning of the life of Jesus. I have discovered that I need them far more than they need me. They are Jesus’ love in the flesh - in the here and now. How could I miss a ride like this?

In their circle of love, I found

the meaning of the life of

Jesus.

Bike for Brady will be held Sunday June 5th! Please come participate in one of our four rides or be part of the picnic during and after the rides. This is one of our largest friend and fundraisers and sponsorship dollars go a long way to support the many ministries of Brady.

Please consider being a sponsor! Contact: Andrew Lunetta (andrewslunetta@gmail.com) or Arnie Artessa (aartessabfc@gmail.com)

to make a difference in the lives of your Brady Faith Center neighbors!!

Bike for Brady

Sponsorship LevelsPedals 2 Possibilities (Naming Sponsor) - $2,500 and above

Pedal to Peace - $1,500 - 2,499Pedal to Hope - $1,000 - 1,499

Pedal to Justice - $500 - 999Pedal to Compassion - $200 - 499

Sponsors in each category receive recognition on event T-shirt, in the printed program, on our website, and in our 1,600 subscriber newsletter,

plus highlighted recognition at the event!

We will be publishing registration and sponsorship sign-ups on the home page of our website: bradyfaithcenter.org

Welcome to our New Staff Members

Julia Nosovitch jnosovitchbfc@gmail.com

Urban Farm Grant Development AssociateKelly Schalk

kellyanneschalk@gmail.com Stone Soup Garden Co-Coordinator &

Nature and Wellness EducatorEmmanuel Flowers

NOW Full Time! daduv9@gmail.com Youth Program Coordinator and Advocate, and Community Liaison for the Urban Farm

Volunteer NeedEach summer, Brady Faith Center runs a 5-week long Vacation Bible School, VBS, from 9am-3pm Monday-Friday for 36 children and 6 teen leaders. We are looking for a team of people who can come from 12-1:30 pm to help distribute lunch, clean up, and lay out afternoon snack. Interested?

VBS dates are July 11-August 12.

Contact Trevor at 472-9077 if you can help in any way!