Breaking bread with our brothers

At a recent Motherhouse Aesthetic Committee meeting, someone asked, what can we do for our roofers? The roofers were, of course, the crew of young men from Guatemala and Mexico employed by South Central Roofing company replacing 14 roofs at the Loretto Motherhouse. The roofing team arrived on July 12 and completed their work on Aug. 5. During that time, Motherhouse residents, visitors and maintenance staff observed the precision teamwork they displayed and sometimes held their breath as the roofers balanced themselves on precarious perches. Each day the routine was the same: peel off old shingles, pry up the nails, wrap the roof with new paper, then the air guns would rat-a-tat-tat, securing the new shingles.

Some residents proclaimed the roofers were “acrobats,” others, so impressed with their teamwork, “a symphony of musicians.” Each day we also heard the roofers laughing and singing along with their music. All of us admired, respected and sympathized with the crew as the heat index was sometimes over 100.

An immediate impression we all had was that our roofers were very young. Some asked, shouldn’t they be in school? Wonder if they have any family in the area? Where do they lay their heads at night? The Community prayed for their safety and for the families they left behind in Guatemala and Mexico.

What can we do for them? That was the question. An almost immediate response was, we can feed them. Lupe Arciniega would be our contact. For many years Lupe partnered with the local Hispanic community to assist them in adjusting to central Kentucky. Lupe almost instantly said, “I know the woman to call! She can prepare an authentic Guatemalan meal for them.”

“These young men are proud to be replacing our roofs,” said Lupe. “There is nothing more important to them than to have a job, earn their way!”

Juanie Maldonado lives in Lebanon with her family and is from Mexico. When Lupe asked her to prepare the meal, she excitedly accepted, saying, “I know what they will like to eat!” Juanie made homemade salsa, barbacoa (slow-cooked shredded beef), black beans and rice, with watermelon that was purchased at a farmer’s roadside stand for dessert. Juanie’s son, Fred, assisted his mother.

The dinner, Friday, Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m., was arranged with Neto Guzman, the roofers’ foreman. Lupe and Alicia Ramirez met Juanie in the yellow kitchen, providing encouragement, love and support. As they spoke their native language, the three women filled the room with excitement and pleasure. At 7:30, the crew of workers were invited into the conference room. Alicia welcomed the young men and introduced Juanie and others who were gathered. Juanie spoke a gracious prayer of thanks for our many blessings but especially for the well-being of the young men.

With eyes aglow and stomachs empty each young man stepped up to be served. “Muchas gracias, de nada and thank yous” were abundantly shared. Maria Visse and Maureen Fieldler spoke with the workers in their native language, a pleasant sound to the young men! Others, including Anndavid Naeger, Judy Popp and I, smiled and gave thanks for the men’s work.

As he passed through the line to be served, one young man expressed to Juanie, “I have not had food like this since I left home; this is my food!” Juanie saw the tears welling up in the young man’s eyes. She told me, “It broke my heart” to hear his words, but it gave her “great satisfaction” to provide a little bit of home for him. For one evening, these young men felt at home, as Loretto Community members — alias abuelas — and Juanie’s home cooking was shared with them.