Posted: Feb 8, 2008

Padre Sanders Overview

In 1969, a Trappist monk left his South Carolina abbey to work with the poor, and eventually found his destiny among Hispanic migrant farm workers. The historical backdrop for Father Richard Sanders’ evolution from monk to migrant priest includes the stable decade of the 1950s, during which he came of age, the Second Vatican Council, social turmoil of the 1960s, Civil Rights and agricultural growth and change in the U.S. Southeast. The book is written with description and dialogue so readers can visualize the hardships faced by migrant workers and Father Sanders’ extraordinary efforts to empower them. Padre Sanders died in 1985 at age 47 from a massive heart attack and subsequent strokes. Over 1,000 people attended his funeral, singing in three languages as they buried him next to his church in Immokalee, Florida; his headstone reads, “Love One Another as I Have Loved You.” His effect on people was so profound that many believe he was a saint and others claim he was Jesus. His story is a message of God’s love for all people.

Posted: Jan 20, 2007

Latin American/U.S. Folk Music Sung by a Gringa

This is a new genre of music that seems to be coming out of my head lately. First there was Take These Hands (see Songs and also Video), then Nine Dead, and we just finished the ballad of the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I'm waiting to see what Latin American or Caribbean story inspires me next!

Posted: Jan 3, 2007

Padre Sanders

Padre Sanders is the title of the book I've been researching for a few years now, about a Trappist Monk who left Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina to find God among migrant farmworkers. In 1978 he founded the San Pedro Mission Church in Naples, Florida, part of St. Peter the Apostle, and then became pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Immokalee, where he died in 1985 at age forty-seven. Many people there believe he was a saint. I'm writing the book as a novel so I could have more flexibility in telling his fascinating story. It's about half written --- I'll keep you posted.

Posted: Jan 3, 2007

Larry's Music

We have a friend/collaborator named Larry Collins who also writes music and I'll be recording a few of his songs soon. They are country with a little bit of folk influence, backed by Larry's excellent piano playing and me on the guitar. One is about a woman in an abusive marriage; a second song is about a lonely woman looking for love; and a third, the story of the garden of a flower child of the sixties.

Posted: Aug 18, 2006

Immokalee's Fields of Hope