I had a dream about basketballs last night, there were six of them up on the new Bishop Maginn High School Amazon Wish List, and it haunted me a bit to learn that the afterschool refugees and neighborhood children who come to play basketball in the school gym have to bring their own basketballs – the school doesn’t have any, the ones they bring are flat and tattered and threadbare. This kept me up a bit.

I bought two, somebody else bought one, there are three left. (For those who need it for Amazon, or for other donations,  the Bishop Maginn school address is: Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202, 518 463-2247.

This is a place of love and refuge and acceptance in a faith that is torn asunder by awful struggles and declining resources. I didn’t have much sympathy for the Catholic Church until I was reminded of some of the great work they still do, work that nobody else seems to be doing.

The Wish List has nine items on it, ranging from $4.76 apiece for 30 copies of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to $5.99 each for erasers to critical thinking posters, gift cards, and some poly softballs.

The school spends all of its money admitting children with little money for tuition, so they need just about everything.

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Sue Silverstein was supposed to take the day off, she seemed exhausted to me yesterday, but this morning, her “angel children,” as she calls them, forgot to look at the schedule and were sitting outside the school waiting for her.

She rushed in to be with them, of course. I was going to scold her and urge her to rest, but I held back.

It’s not up to me to tell her how to spend her vacation days. I’ve learned the hard way not to try to tell other people what to do, to accept them and not think I know best.

She’s a big girl, and this is her life. But I hope she gets some rest.  When I see what she has done for those “angel” children, there is little for me to do but stand back in awe. Many things are just bigger than me.

I think it’s clear who the angel is. I don’t know how she does what she does.

She sold her second painting yesterday for $200. She wants the payment to go to the school’s tuition fund. Check out the new Wish List. It’s a wonderful place to visit at the start of the day. And every single dollar goes directly to help a child get the tools they need for the future.

I also want to mention that there is a new Mansion Amazon Wish List, six movies that the residents of the Mansion have requested. Check it out, and thanks.

(I appreciate that some of you prefer to send contributions to me directly, and I will make the purchases for you if you prefer or don’t like to use the wishlist. People have many different feelings about buying things online. If you prefer, you can send your contributions to me via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, Bishop Maginn, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. I’ll use it wisely and quickly and well. I never hang onto donations. Either way, thanks.)