Father Alex Busuttil Speaks to Rotary
By Matt Joyner
 
Earlier this year eleven people affiliated with Charlotte Rotary took advantage of a "chance of a lifetime" and went on a service trip to Alto Cayma, Peru, a small village in the Andes mountains. Former president David Anderson was among them and he had the honor Tuesday of introducing to the club the man "who had the vision to make happen what they saw there," namely Father Alexander Busuttil.
 
Father Alex is a missionary priest of the Society of Saint Paul, an order of the Catholic Church. A native of the Mediterranean island of Malta and ordained a priest in 1984, Father Alex has served God and man in Peru for the last twelve years. Prior to that he served two years in Libya and seven years in Pakistan, developing a ministry to Pakistani political prisoners and their families in that country.
 
Father Alex noted that the twin pillars of Rotary are friendship and service and that Alto Cayma presents "an adventure in faith and service, building peace on Earth." Noting that he had no formal training in the extensive work for the poor that he currently performs, Father Alex said, "It only takes common sense. No more, no less." He said that any person can see what a hungry, naked or homeless person needs; the difference is whether or not one acts upon what one knows.
 
And the ways in which Father Alex has acted in Alto Cayma and the surrounding mountain villages are manifold. Among other things his ministry is responsible there for operating a childcare center that serves 120 children providing nutrition, healthcare and clothing, an elder care ministry, a parish kitchen that provides daily bread to 650 people a day, a health clinic that just recently passed its 10,000th patient mark, an adult education center, a computer center and vocational training in wood carving, weaving local Alpaca wool and handcrafting beautiful greeting cards. (http://www.serving-alto-cayma.info/)
 
Father Alex's ministry draws support from many different faith communities in the United States including Protestants, Mormons and Jews as well as from civic groups such as Rotary clubs in Portland, Oregon and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His ministry also is supported by the Peruvian government, providing a local "faith-based" infrastructure to help deliver government assistance such as World Health Organization food supplies and an improved potable water supply. He noted that all of the recipients of services from his ministry pay some nominal fee for whatever they receive, but no one goes away empty handed for lack of resources.
 
Quoting Mother Teresa, with whom he worked for three years, Father Alex said that, "the biggest sin in the world is indifference. Don't be indifferent. Act." Thank you, Father Alex for your ministry and your inspiration to Charlotte Rotary to renewed action in fulfillment of "Service Above Self."
   
Head Table: Frank Martin, Carol Hughes, Luther Moore, David Anderson, Herb Harriss, Warren Kean;
Invocation: Emmy Lou Burchette
Visitors & Guests: Chris Thomas; Health & Happiness: Phil Volponi and Claude Lilly; Song: Biff Virkler; Piano: Thomas Moore

• RJ made the whisper shot in Jeff Elder's column. That would be the 6-month-old guide dog Jill Santuccio is training; John Tabor commented on water restrictions and transfer options in the weekly Forum; Claude Lilly was profiled as a Charlotte business leader moving forward as he prepares to leave UNCC for Clemson University; Dr. Dick Reiling was elected to a four-year term as a member-at-large of the National Board of Medical Examiners representing the American Medical Association; Fred and Sallie Lowrance were photographed while attending the United Way's reception for members of the Tocqueville Society; Donald Haack and daughter Julie Kral explained the issue of conflict diamonds in the Observer's Opinion section; Pam Syfert was among the VIPs attending a lecture by David McCullough in celebration of the MecDec May 20th Society; several Rotarians participated in the Charlotte Chamber's Legislative Train Trip to Raleigh on May 23: Natalie English, Budd Berro, Ron Campbell, Greg Etheridge, David Dunn and Luther Moore.
   
• Condolences to Floyd and Ann Davis in the loss of Ann's Father last weekend;
   
• John Snyder recognized Interact counselor Joanne Stroshine and thanked her for her service and dedication to the Myers Park students; Ed Wadsworth welcomed Jim and Gloria Hintz and thanked them for displaying the beautiful gift cards made from the young women in Peru.
   
• Mike and Stacy Hummer welcomed the birth of son, Brayden, last Tuesday. Brayden was born two months early and will be in the special care nursery for about six weeks. Everyone is doing quite well.

• June 26th will be the annual CLUB ASSEMBLY dinner. Guests and significant others are invited to enjoy the BBQ and fellowship at SMS Catering. Be sure you mark the date!

H. William Constangy (Bill)
District Court Judge, State of North Carolina
Mecklenburg County Court House
832 E. Fourth St, Ste 9600 (28202)
bill.constangy@nccourts.org  704-686-0116
 
Bill Constangy is now serving his 5th consecutive term as a District Court Judge, having practiced law in Charlotte for 18 years prior to becoming a judge. Bill was born in Atlanta, but moved to Charlotte when he was 13 and graduated from East Mecklenburg High School in the class with Herb Harriss' wife, Karen. He obtained his BS from Wake Forest University, where he was Student Body President and a Hankins Scholar, and his JD from Duke University School of Law. Bill is author of a law book on employment law and numerous other publications. He has been married for 37 years to his wife, Debbie, and has 2 children, Billy, who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill last year and is now Finance Director for Congresswoman, Sue Myrick, and Mary, a Junior at NC State.