Restoring the Face of St. Joseph

Catholic Charities of Acadiana’s supportive community uses their unique talents to bring life and love to those we serve. Rachelle Blanchard is one who is serving through her giftedness in art to “restore the face of St. Joseph.” at St. Joseph Diner.
 

St. Joseph, the patron and namesake of St. Joseph Diner, has long been represented by a statue in the dining room.

Several weeks ago, upon visiting volunteers at St. Joseph Diner, CCA’s director of Food and Nutrition, Todd Buteaux, casually approached me and showed me a picture on his phone. The picture was of our St. Joseph statue. However, something was different...

When I first encountered the St. Joseph statue years ago, his nose was unceremoniously broken off along with half of his forehead leaving an unsightly deformity in his otherwise comely face. Despite his state, he stayed in St. Joseph Diner, positioned on a small, high, recessed window.

The photo that Todd showed me on his phone; however, was not a broken St. Joseph statue. It was indeed the same St. Joseph statue, but his nose and forehead were being restored with clay by a loving hand!

“A volunteer named Rachelle saw St. Joseph and took pity on him in his state,” Todd explained.  “She asked if she could take the statue, restore his form, and paint him back into life. I told her she could. “

I later learned that Rachelle was a new volunteer, wanting to use her time for service now that she has more of it to spare. She had refurbished other statues in the past and upon seeing the need, she realized that she could use her gifts to serve the common good. She stepped forward offering her unique talents in service to God and neighbor in a profound and generous gesture. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

Through her action, it seems that our patron, St. Joseph, is reminding us that God does through St. Joseph Diner what Rachelle was doing to the statue - God restores.

Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. And in every human being this image and likeness of God becomes disfigured, broken, calling out for restoration.

Sometimes, disfigurement is more externally apparent as in the case of a visible disability, physical or mental illness, homelessness, abuse and addiction.

And we serve a God who is not in the business of disposing and replacing broken people. God is in the business of healing and restoring them.

At St. Joseph Diner, our client are reminded of who they are and whose they are. Through a clean space, a warm meal, a friendly smile, a kind word, and an understanding reception, a piece of the process of full restoration can take place. And the statue of our patron, St. Joseph will stand as a reminder of this.

Let us pray. O, Lord, may all who walk through the doors of St. Joseph Diner experience healing through encounter, accompaniment and tender loving care. Through these means and a warm meal may they experience a restoration of their human dignity just as the broken face on the statue of St. Joseph is being restored.

St. Joseph, pray for us!