Laughing for the Lord
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 15 February 2012 14:15
- Written by Matt Robinson
The Paraclete Foundation’s Comedy at the Convent keeps it clean and fun
Oh, you heard that one?
Well, if you are in the mood to hear some great jokes that will lift your spirits in a spiritual setting while also raising money to help kids, check out The Paraclete Foundation’s Comedy at the Convent on February 19 at 7 PM.
For over 15 years, Paraclete (www.paraclete.org) has been enriching the lives of young people and their communities through education. Based in South Boston in what was indeed a former convent (and the site of the chapel scenes from the award-winning Paul Newman film “The Verdict”), Paraclete now serves scores of families from all around Greater Boston with a menu of after-school programs that includes math and literacy tutorials as well as cooking and crafts.
Since 1997, the Foundation has been supporting its support of the community through this novel night of cloistered comedy. “. We hold this event each year on the Sunday of Presidents Weekend,” explains long-time Paraclete supporter Julie Montesano, noting that the event usually features as many as seven popular comedians, as well as food, drink, a raffle, and an auction, all of rat ex-deductible ticket price of $50.
While Montesano explains that Comedy at the Convent began as “a really small intimate event,” it is now one of the most popular events of its kind in the area. “It has grown in both size and popularity,” Montesano explains, noting that the show sold out last year. “The community looks forward to it every year!”
This year, the event is set to feature such great laugh masters as Joey Carroll, Tom Hayes, Jack Lynch, Bob Niles, Carolyn Plummer, Patty Ross, and Bob Seibel. “I got involved with the Paraclete shortly after returning home from entertaining our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005,” Carroll explains. “My friends were doing the show and they added me on that night.” After learning about Foundation Director Sister Ann Fox’s work with children – both here and in Rwanda – Carroll knew he had found a good group to work with. “I realized that I had found myself in the middle of something very special,” he says. “I also found that I wanted to be involved with them on a long term basis.”
Though Carroll is always s happy to contribute his talents to a good cause, he finds the Comedy at the Convent show to be something extra special. “The Paraclete lives up to it’s mission statement,” he suggests. “Between all of the good work they do over there and my own Catholic guilt I had no choice but to stay involved through the years.” This show will mark Carroll’s seventh straight year performing at Paraclete, “and my enthusiasm for them has continued to grow!”
Though he is a “city kid” who admits to being “a little rough around the edges,” Carroll says that he always stays just this side of blue. “Most of my act is family friendly,” he says, “but I still have some edgy material in there, so making the transition to playing in a convent with nuns in the audience was only a minor adjustment but it is always on my mind when I perform there.” While he “turns it down” out of respect for Fox, Carroll also admits that “the reason I play by the rules there is that I don’t want to get whacked across the knuckles with a ruler after the show.”
I hope this sheds some light on what the Paraclete means to me and how I am Sharon Campbell is a former Paraclete student who now oversees the HR department for Starwood Hotels in Boston. “I was lucky to have the Paraclete Center right next store,” Campbell says, recalling taking a Kids Can Cook class as a young child that inspired her to enter the hospitality industry. “I truly enjoyed bring home a home cooked meal,” she recalls.
“It built my self-esteem and confidence and I truly enjoyed giving my hard working mom a break at least one night a week.” After taking courses at Paraclete, Campbell became an instructor.
“I began to give back in any way I could,” she recalls, echoing one of the Foundation’s goals. “The Paraclete Center directly shaped my focus….I feel truly lucky to have had access to such an impactful after school program at an early age. This program directly shape my direction in life and for that I am very grateful.”
“I have been involved at the Paraclete almost as long as I can remember,” says Paraclete development administrator Ellen Mc- Donough, who recalls coming with her mother to the convent when she was only 10 and continued through her high school years as a student and now as an ardent supporter.
McDonough notes that her Paraclete preparation not only helped her get into Boston Latin School and Harvard but also set her up to do the PR work she does today. “With Harvard and two successful political campaigns under my belt, I return to the Paraclete with new eyes and a newfound appreciation for everything I learned here,” Mc- Donough says, “spiritually, academically, and community-wise.”
While the Comedy event is intended for older fans, the purpose of it is clearly for the kids. After all, serving underserved children is what Paraclete is all about. “One grows up fast in the city,” Campbell observes. “Sometimes too fast. It’s important for children to have a safe place after school where they can learn, grow and feel like they have options in life. The Paraclete did that and so much more for me.”
