THE SEPTEMBER MEN'S BREAKFAST will be held on Saturday, Sept 27. Our guest will be Charlie Stroble, founder of Room in the Inn. Coffee chat time is from 8:00-8:30 AM and breakfast will begin at 8:30 AM sharp. Cost is $5.00. RSVP by Thursday, September 25th by contacting Sean Root at stbsmens@aol.com or call 202-7365. Please let Sean know if you can assist in the kitchen

  Charles Strobel is the recently “retired” Executive Director of the Campus of Human Development, which offers a wide range of services to homeless persons, including shelter, job services, drug counseling and more, including the Room In The Inn program.  Four downtown churches initiated the program in November 2005.  Jim Stranch and Randall Ferguson, along with Randy Hoover-Dempsey and Bob Garth, initiated St. B’s involvement early in 2006, making this our 23rd year of RITI involvement and relationship with Charlie.
Charlie was a student during the turbulent 1960s, during which he and fellow students sometimes took to the streets in support of peace and justice.  He also made time to study, earning his Bachelor of Philosophy and Liberal Arts at St. Mary’s Seminary in Kentuckyin 1965. He earned his Bachelor of Theology and Master of Theology Degrees at CatholicUniversityin Washington, D.C. in 1968 and 1970, respectively. He also earned a Master of Education degree from XavierUniversityin Cincinnati, Ohio. Nearly everyone still calls him "Father," although he actually left the priesthood about ten years ago.
     Following graduation, Father Charlie served parishes in Knoxville, TN and here in Nashville, including Holy Name Catholic Church in East Nashville, where he started the "Room-in-the Inn" Program. He is a tireless advocate for the homeless, helping organize many of Nashville's homeless assistance programs, including Room in the Inn, Loaves and Fishes, Matthew 25, the Guest House, and the Campus for Human Development. 
     Back in February, 2003 Charlie introduced President Bush to RITI and has served as an advisor on faith-based initiatives. He was named Nashvillian of the Year in 2004 and Tennessean of the Year in 2005. Charlie was given national awards for community service from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and from Catholic Charities. The awards have helped open some doors, but they certainly have not gone to his head.  In an interview about RITI on National Public Radio, Charlie choked up on the air over having to turn people away every night even after providing places for 180-225 “guests” in congregations throughout Nashville. Throughout his career in advocacy, Charlie has been a political force, forming alliances with the offices of the Governor of the State of Tennessee, the Mayor of Nashville and the city’s housing, health and police departments, the Veteran’s Administration, corporations, foundations and health care providers. Perhaps as a result, in the Nashville Scene’s 2007 “Best of Nashville” voting, Charlie was named one of our top three Community Role Models.  Nashville Scene magazine described Charlie as “a mosquito buzzing in the ear of Nashville’s movers and shakers” who has “persistently---some would say stubbornly---refused to tone down his unceasing advocacy” on behalf of the homeless.
     Many of us will never forget something utterly horrible, and something even more remarkable, that happened during RITI’s second year.  On Dec. 9, 1986, Charlie’s mother, Mary Catherine Strobel, went missing while she was making her volunteer rounds; two days later, her body was discovered in the trunk of her car. She had offered blankets to a homeless man who, it turned out, had recently escaped from a prison mental ward and was later charged in both her murder and several others.  More than 1,000 people participated in her remarkable memorial service. Father Strobel and his family called on everyone to forgive, even adamantly demanding that Nashville's District Attorney NOT seek the death penalty. Charlie simply said, "We know the answers are not easy and clear, but we still believe in the miracle of forgiveness... There are still needs all around us, and we must attend to those needs."
     Charlie is a person of deep faith, compassion, and an activist for justice in society. He cheers for Father Ryan and Vanderbilt sports teams, and he would probably have preferred that this introduction had been prepared by Ed Schoenberger, who would have simply said that Charlie was a superb shortstop and awesome hitter in the "over-__ years softball league.  
     Please come out and welcome Charles Strobel to St. B’s.

Room In The Inn
Fast facts: In the past year, 28,522 beds were provided to 1,033 different individuals (46% first-time guests). More than 150 congregations served 72,217 meals, 16,804 snacks and offered 12,658 showers. 29,373 volunteers provided 111,030 hours and drove 155,242 miles in order to offer safe shelter for the homeless in Nashville.

Newcomer Luncheon

The Annual St. B's Pig Roast

October 19th from 12:15-2:30. Benefits will go to the Youth Ministry ($5/person recommended donation, 5 & up.) Included are children's activities, inflatables, and other games. Hot dogs & chicken will also be served.