The Tau House community continues to meet monthly in our homes.  Brother Ed Arambasich has started another blog where he offers daily reflections for our community and for all who are interested.  You'll find announcements of our meeting places.  Ed continues the Franciscan tradition for us.  The blog is located at franciscantau.blogspot.com

Meeting schedule

We currently meet monthly in each other's homes.  If you would like information on our schedule, please email me at the address at right.  Please know that you are welcome to join us.

Transformations

Ater much prayer and thought, it has been decided that Tau House will no longer be a place where regular worship services take place.

The Tau Rose

The garden at Tau House has always been a focal point for our community. It's a green postage stamp nestled between Tau House itself, two neighbors and a massive brick wall that in another era separated the world from the Carmelite sisters. One neighboring building is much taller than Tau and has several apartments in it. When I look up from our garden, especially at night, I am sometimes reminded of Blanche Dubois' place in the Quarter. There are little balconies, clotheslines and every now and then a moment of music drifts down from someone's radio.

I never cease to be amazed at what these little courtyard gardens are able to accomplish with a couple hours of sunlight, water, and an occasional shot of Miracle

Gro. Without care, they become jungles of vines that eat away at whatever is in their way. With care, an incredible array of colors, shapes and textures mingle and respect each other.

Roses don't often do well in the climate of New Orleans. It's too warm, too humid. Fungus takes its toll on the rose plant. We have one rose in our garden. For most of the year it's the proverbial stick in the mud. Fr. Ralph told me someone gave it to him years ago. He didn't know what to do with it so he stuck it in the ground near the pond. I don't know if he was aware that that spot gets the most sunlight of all in our garden. It is much less than the six hours that defines "full sun." Perhaps it gets three hours. So our plant manages to store whatever energy comes its way. Last year it graced us with three or four blooms during the month of December. What you see at right was the best. Lo, how a rose....

On Sundays at 4:15 a wonderful gathering of colors, music, people of all shapes and sizes and beliefs happens at Tau House. Please join us for prayer.

Forum for Equality

Sr. Ann and I recently met with representatives from the Forum for Equality, Mary Griggs and Frank Flaspohler. The Forum is a civil rights organization dedicated to the establishment of a society free from discrimination. In an effort to work more closely with area faith communities they had contacted us and wanted to get a feel for what goes on at Tau House. Result: Tau will be listed and recommended as a place where the LGBT community is welcomed and accepted. Of course we knew that all along, but it’s nice to know there’s an organization like the Forum getting the word out for us. There’s a link to their site in the right hand column.

God Dreams

ADVENT WORKSHOP

On Wednesday evenings in Advent we'll be taking a look at Archbishop Desmond Tutu's book God Has a Dream. We'll be listening to sections of the book as read by the archbishop. A Soup & Bread supper as well as discussion time round out the evening.

Maybe this is the reason you need to get back to Tau House.

Come on back and pick up where you left off.

Wednesdays in December

(2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd)

6 to 8 PM.

November

All The Saints

A place of beauty and prayer, the courtyard at Tau House also triggers our memories every time we touch the names engraved at our feet. The firm foundation on which we walk almost gives way as memory transports us backward and forward. Oh, how I wanna be in that number….

Every now and then it is good to name the names. Every year for this ever-so-New Orleans Feast Day we begin our prayer in this holy place. Below are listed all those who have been important to someone at Tau and whose names are inscribed there. If by chance you notice that a name is missing from this list please let us know.

George L. Anderson

Joann Joy Arambasich and Bro.Ed’s family

Julie Arbaud

Barry Coyle, OFM

Blaine Family, Adele, Pierre, Elaine

Tom Boderlon

Alan Bose

Troy Brown

Tony Chabera

Mr. F. P. Coogan Sr.

Merlin Douth

Catherine Dunne

Mike Early

Fasnacht Family

Patrick Fogarty

Dee Dee, Gendusa Family

Bruce Gillen

Godchaux & Bruce Families

Fran & Larry Green

Paul Aaron Greensberg

Stephanie Hall and parents

Louise and Bennett Voorhies

Daryl Hancock

Dr Daniel Herrera

Cecelia Hodge

Sr. Jane Kraus, CSJ

Kenneth Kuhn

Lasseigne Family

Jutta Latterman

Erick C Lee

Lin & Eli

Charles and Mary Mallinson

Simone Mallinson

Patrick McCarthy

Eduardo Marvez-Valle

Louis Masset Family

Edward and Elizabeth McElha

Doug Massey

Tom Murphy

Terry Murata

Paul and Joe Nicholson

Gratian Nosal OFM

Joseph William Parrino

May and Zig Pawell, Fr. Bob’s parents

Ismael Pena

Danny Perry

A. Pratt R Provosty

P. Provosty & children

Chester and Lillian Robichaux

Hugh and Loretta Roddy

William Romine

Kelly A Ryan & Family

Jim Shepard

Robert Shepard

Smith Family

Tim Snyder

Todd Taylor

Bette Taylor

Renza Terrebonne

Wendel Zane Thompson

Anna Tomeczek

Kevin Viola

Jessie Walker III

Mike Wech

Wech & Ferris Families

Esther B Wessel

Louis A Wessel

Robert Wessel

Margaret M Wessel

Linda A. Wessel

Chuck West

Wiesbrook Family

Mr. & Mrs. H. H. Winn

Mr. H.H. Winn Jr

Arthur Wojciechowski

Reggie Young