September, 2025
Beloved,
None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody—a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony, or a few nuns—bent down and helped us pick up our boots.” I recently quoted this statement from Thurgood Marshall when I spoke about Project CALEB. I firmly stand by his philosophy, and I find it humbling coming from him.
As the first African American Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Marshall could have rested in self-glory. Instead, he chose humility, remembering the teachers, mentors, and neighbors who shaped him. At a time when society placed great emphasis on self-reliance, Marshall reminded us that greatness comes through unity and interdependence—not for self-gain, but for the good of others. Such a greatness echoes what the Apostle Paul taught the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 10:17): that we are one body, sharing one bread.
Project CALEB has become a living witness to that truth. It has been just over a month since Caleb’s tragic accident, which resulted in his spinal cord injury. You and many others in the community responded. In only a few weeks, your generosity has raised nearly $9,000, and the fund continues to grow. Yet the most profound part is not the amount—it is the chain reaction of love and solidarity. Together, we are raising hope, funding care, and making a home accessible.
As Caleb, a 15-year-old, works to relearn how to communicate with his body, we stand beside him as the body of Christ—his hands, his feet, his voice of encouragement. Saint Teresa of Avila said it best:
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes with which he looks with compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
We now invite you to the Sunday Afternoon Musicale on September 7 at 2 pm. This event will feature the talents of St. Paul’s Collegiate Schola members—Anthony, Miles, Jovanna, Gabby, and Oscar—together with guest pianist Denise Whittington. It will be a beautiful opportunity to join Caleb’s healing journey. Please come, and bring your friends. All proceeds will go to Project CALEB.
The Collegiate Schola is more than a choir; it is a ministry. These college students support our worship each week with their voices, while also learning about servanthood and stewardship. Guided by our choirmaster, David Paul, and inspired by the example of our dedicated volunteer choir members, they are now putting that learning into action—offering their gifts in service to Caleb, even though they have never met him.
To support their efforts, our choir members will host a reception after the concert. Church members will help spread the word by visiting schools, posting flyers in the community, and inviting friends and family. In this way, Caleb’s healing journey is teaching all of us how to live as One Body—not for personal gain, but for a greater cause that gives us purpose.
Did you know that September is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month? The color is lime green. I look forward to seeing you at the Sunday Afternoon Musicale on September 7 at 2 pm. Bring your friends, raise awareness, and let us continue to walk together with Caleb. His journey may be long, but we will come through it stronger, braver, and united in love—because we are a Community Acting in Love to Elevate Bravery in one another.
With love and gratitude,
Fr. Andrew
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