KIM LAWTON LOOKS AT THE ONGOING CHALLENGES FOR RELIEF AND RECOVERY.

>>> AND AS THE NATION MARKS MEMORIAL DAY, MANY FEMALE VETERANS, SOME OF THEM SINGLE MOTHERS, SAY THEY COME BACK FROM WAR TO NEITHER JOBS NOR HOMES.

BOB FAW VISITS ONE ORGANIZATION TRYING TO HELP.

>>> PLUS, JUDY VALENTE REPORTS ON ST. BENEDICT'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, SUCCESSFULLY EDUCATING YOUNG MEN FROM THE CITY'S MOST TROUBLED NEIGHBORHOODS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALSO PROVIDED BY -- >>> WELCOME, I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

ONE MONTH AFTER THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN NEPAL, HUMANITARIAN WORKERS ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO HELP THE MORE THAN 8 MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED.

KIM LAWTON HAS MORE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF DELIVERING IMMEDIATE AID WHILE ALSO WORKING FOR LONG-TERM RECOVERY.

>> HUMANITARIAN GROUPS HAVE BEEN RUSHING TO GET DESPERATELY NEEDED SUPPLIES INTO NEPAL, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN EASY.

>> THERE'S ONE RUNWAY IN KATMANDU, AND EVEN JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE, THAT HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF A LUFTHANSA FLIGHT HAD GONE OFF THE RUNWAY.

CAN YOU IMAGINE ALL OF THESE RELIEF SUPPLIES TRYING TO GET IN TO KATMANDU?

THE ROADS FROM INDIA ARE THERE, BUT THEY'RE CLOGGED, AND SO GETTING THE SUPPLIES IN HAS BEEN A MAJOR LOGISTICAL HEADACHE.

>> KENT HILL LEADS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR WORLD VISION U.S., ONE OF THE LARGEST CHRISTIAN HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS.

HILL WAS IN NEPAL LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO FOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW RELIEF GROUPS COULD BE BETTER PREPARED IN THIS EARTHQUAKE-PRONE REGION.

>> I CAME BACK EXCEPTIONALLY CONCERNED.

I JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HIT THIS FAST.

>> WORLD VISION ALREADY HAD 200 STAFF IN NEPAL, AND THE GROUP HAS SENT IN 50 EMERGENCY EXPERTS.

>> THE FIRST TASK OBVIOUSLY IS TO SAVE LIVES.

YOU'VE GOT TO DO THAT.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET FOOD.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET SHELTER.

IT'S ALREADY COLD IN NEPAL.

IT WAS COOL IN THE EVENING AND NEAR FREEZING NOW AT NIGHT, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE IN TENTS.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO GET THEM SHELTER.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET THEM BLANKETS.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET THEM WATER.

>> HILL SAYS NEPALESE CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW.

>> OVER HALF THE POPULATION WAS ALREADY CONSIDERED POOR, LIVING ON $2 A DAY.

IT MEANS THAT ALREADY THERE WERE BIG CHILD EXPLOITATION PROBLEMS, TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, CHILD LABOR, EARLY MARRIAGE.

THE CHILDREN WERE ALREADY IN TROUBLE.

AND IN ANY KIND OF DISASTER LIKE THIS, THE PRESSURE FOR THE PROBLEMS TO GROW WORSE ON CHILDREN GROWS TREMENDOUSLY.

WORLD VISION IS ESTABLISHING WHAT THE GROUP CALLS CHILD FRIENDLY SPACES.

>> TO GIVE SOME REGULARITY AND ROUTINE TO THEIR LIVES AGAIN, A PLACE THEY CAN COLOR AND PLAY, WHERE COUNSELORS ARE IN CASE THEY'VE LOST THEIR PARENTS OR LOVED ONES.

>> THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL BE KEY AS THE REGION PREPARES FOR MONSOON SEASON.

EMERGENCY OFFICIALS WARN THAT THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE COULD DIE BECAUSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE EARTHQUAKES.

>> ANYTIME THE WATER SUPPLY IS DISRUPTED, YOU'VE GOT THE POSSIBILITY OF CHOLERA.

YOU'VE GOT OTHER WATER-BORNE DISEASES.

THAT CAN HURT.

WE'VE GOT PROBABLY SEVERAL MILLION PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD NOW LIKE THEY DID BEFORE.

AND REMEMBER, NEPAL ALREADY WAS PRONE NOT JUST TO EARTHQUAKES, BUT TO FLOODS AND TO DROUGHT.

SO YOU'VE GOT A FOOD PROBLEM YOU'VE GOT A WATER PROBLEM, YOU'VE GOT A HEALTH PROBLEM.

>> EVEN AS THEY ARE DISTRIBUTING IMMEDIATE AID, HILL SAYS HIS PEOPLE ARE ALSO WORKING ON MORE PERMANENT SOLUTIONS.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE THINKING NOW, WHAT DO YOU DO TO MOBILIZE THOSE RESOURCES, TO GET THE ECONOMY GOING AGAIN.

>> AND AS REBUILDING EFFORTS MOVE FORWARD, HILL SAYS IT'S IMPERATIVE TO MAKE STRUCTURES THAT ARE ABLE TO WITHSTAND FUTURE EARTHQUAKES.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO START WITH HOSPITALS.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET THOSE BUILDINGS RETROFITTED.

YOU NEED TO DO THE SAME THING WITH GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND THE SCHOOLS.

>> HE SAYS WORKERS ON THE GROUND MUST DECIDE HOW BEST TO ALLOCATE LIMITED RESOURCES.

>> THEY HAVE TO MAKE IMMEDIATE DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE DO YOU PUT YOUR EFFORT.

THE RESOURCES FLOW IN, BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES YOU NEED RIGHT NOW?

SO THESE FOLKS ARE SOME OF OUR MOST CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS, THE ONES WHO SAY I DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING I WANT.

WHAT DO I DO IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES?

>> AND THOSE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS.

>> THEY'RE VERY TOUGH.

I MEAN, YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WITH THEIR HANDS OUT AND THEY'RE DESPERATE AND TO TURN SOMEBODY DOWN WHO MAY NOT BE IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION TO GET SOMEBODY WHO IS CAN CREATE TENSION.

YOU HAVE TO HANDLE THAT DIPLOMATICALLY.

NO, IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND IT TAKES A LOT OF EXPERTISE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY CUT OUT FOR THIS KIND OF PRESSURE.

>> THE NEPAL DISASTER COMES AS RESOURCES AT WORLD VISION AND MANY OTHER HUMANITARIAN GROUPS ARE ALREADY STRETCHED THIN DEALING WITH OTHER CRISES AROUND THE WORLD, SUCH AS THE FLOOD OF REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS, IDPS, IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA.

>> WE MAY HAVE 3 MILLION PEOPLE DISPLACED BY WHAT HAPPENED IN NEPAL, BUT DO YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE WELL OVER 12 MILLION, HALF THE POPULATION OF SYRIA, HAVE BEEN DISPLACED.

THERE ARE OVER 50 MILLION REFUGEES AND IDPS IN THE WORLD TODAY.

THAT IS THE MOST SINCE WORLD WAR II.

>> HILL ADMITS THE ENORMITY OF THE NEEDS CAN BE OVERWHELMING.

>> THE ONLY WAY YOU GET THROUGH THAT, WHAT I CALL THE TEMPTATION TO DESPAIR, IS TO NOT THINK OF A MILLION OR 12 MILLION OR 50 MILLION PEOPLE IN NEED.

IT'S TO THINK ABOUT THAT ONE PERSON, THAT ONE CHILD.

AND ONCE YOU'VE HAD ANY CONTACT WITH ONE PERSON WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED, OR SAVED, OR PRESERVED FROM DISEASE, ONCE YOU'VE SEEN ONE LIFE CHANGE, YOU SAY IT IS WORTH IT.

>> I'M KIM LAWTON REPORTING.

>>> THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WE REMEMBER MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.

THERE IS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM WAR AND ARE TRYING TO RESUME THEIR LIVES.

WE HAVE A REPORT TODAY ON THE PROBLEMS OF WOMEN, MANY OF THEM SINGLE MOTHERS, WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE MILITARY AND COME BACK TO NEITHER JOBS NOR HOMES.

EVEN THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION CONCEDES THAT THE SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR FEMALE VETERANS ARE NOT AS EXTENSIVE AS THOSE FOR MEN.

BUT CORRESPONDENT BOB FAW FOUND A PLACE WHERE SOME HOMELESS FEMALE VETS ARE GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.

IT'S CALLED FINAL SALUTE.

>> FOR WOMEN WHO SERVE IN THE AMERICAN MILITARY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH CHILDREN, DEPLOYED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE CAN BE WHEN THEY COME HOME.

VETERAN CHIQUITA PENA -- >> WE'RE VERY PROUD PEOPLE IN UNIFORM.

WE WANT TO KEEP OURSELVES TOGETHER.

WE WANT TO BE THE PROBLEM SOLVERS, THE FIXERS, YOU KNOW, THE LEADERS.

WELL, WHEN YOU GO FROM BEING A LEADER TO BEING A PERSON THAT'S NEEDS THE HELP, THAT NEEDS THE HAND UP -- >> THAT'S ROUGH.

>> IT'S ROUGH, AND IT HURTS, YOU KNOW.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SAYS THAT FROM 2006 TO 2010, THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS FEMALE VETERANS DOUBLED.

VERONICA WITHERSPOON IS ONE OF AN ESTIMATED MORE THAN 15,000 WOMEN VETS WHO ENDED UP HOMELESS.

>> WE GO TO WAR, PROTECT OUR COUNTRY, AND WE COME HOME TO NOTHING.

>> AFTER DEPLOYMENT IN AFGHANISTAN, NAVY RESERVIST WITHERSPOON ENDED UP LIVING WITH HER MOTHER AND FELT, SHE SAYS, LIKE "DAMAGED GOODS."

>> HOW DID I BECOME HOMELESS?

LIKE, WHERE DO I BEGIN TO LOOK?

HOW DO I PICK UP THESE PIECES, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT I FELT BROKEN, LIKE SOMEBODY JUST PUSHED ME DOWN, AND I JUST FELL APART.

>> DEPLOYED ABROAD TWICE, ARMY RESERVIST CHIQUITA PENA, WHOSE HUSBAND WAS ALSO ABROAD, WAS JOBLESS AND NEEDED A PLACE TO LIVE WITH HER 2.5-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, NAYELI.

FINAL SALUTE GOT HER BACK ON HER FEET.

>> WE STEREOTYPE HOMELESSNESS WITH, YOU KNOW, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, A HOBO OR BUM OR SOMEONE WHO'S A WINO OR DRINKING ON THE STREET.

THIS IS THE NEW FACE OF HOMELESSNESS.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> MY FACE.

I'M WHAT HOMELESSNESS LOOKS LIKE.

WHAT FINAL SALUTE DOES IS KEEP YOU LOOKING LIKE THIS BEFORE YOU END UP ON THE STREET.

>> JASPEN BOOTHE, A FORMER ARMY CAPTAIN, NOT ONLY UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM, SHE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> WE HAVE A CORE SET OF PRINCIPLES CALLED WARRIOR ETHOS.

A PORTION OF THAT WARRIOR ETHOS IS TO NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE, AND THAT WAS MY MAIN REASON FOR PUTTING MY OWN MONEY UPFRONT, BECAUSE THESE ARE MY SISTERS.

I TOOK AN OATH, AND I'M BOUND TO THAT, AND I HAD TO HONOR MY COMMITMENT.

>> FOUR YEARS AGO, WITH $15,000 FROM HER OWN POCKET, SHE OPENED A HOUSE FOR HOMELESS FEMALE VETERANS AND NAMED HER ORGANIZATION FINAL SALUTE.

>> ONCE YOU'RE DEAD, YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GETTING A FINAL SALUTE.

FOR SOME PEOPLE, THEY NEED THAT FINAL SALUTE NOW.

THEY NEED THAT ACT OF RESPECT IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.

>> FINAL SALUTE, FUNDED NOW BY PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS, IS IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, AND HOUSES UP TO EIGHT SINGLE WOMEN AND WOMEN WITH CHILDREN.

HOUSING AND FOOD ARE PROVIDED FREE FOR UP TO TWO YEARS, ALTHOUGH A LOT OF WOMEN STAY FOR LESS TIME.

VETERAN CYNTHIA STEVENSON -- >> SHE HELPS YOU WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

FINANCIALLY, SHE GIVES -- THEY HAVE CLASSES, YOU KNOW, TO HELP YOU LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FINANCES.

CLASSES ON HOW TO, YOU KNOW, GET YOUR MIND TOGETHER, GET PREPARED FOR THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE COMING BACK FROM ANY DEPLOYMENTS.

>> AT FINAL SALUTE, NO ONE IS CODDLED.

THERE'S A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR DRUGS AND VIOLENCE AND BIWEEKLY SESSIONS WITH A SOCIAL WORKER.

>> WE CAN WRITE, YOU KNOW, A LIST OF OUR TOP FIVE THINGS WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH IN 2015.

>> THE EMPHASIS, SAYS BOOTHE, IS ON PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

>> THEY CLEAN THE HOUSE THEMSELVES.

WE DON'T PREPARE THEIR MEALS.

THEY COOK.

THEY FEED THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.

SO, AGAIN, WE'LL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED, BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TO GIVE YOU A HANDOUT OR TO HOLD YOUR HAND.

WE'LL OFFER THEM TRULY A HAND UP, BUT THEY KNOW THAT IT BEGINS WITH THEM.

>> 13-YEAR VETERAN BOOTHE KNOWS A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT STARTING OVER.

IN 2005, NOT ONLY DID HURRICANE KATRINA DESTROY EVERYTHING SHE OWNED, SHE'S ALSO A CANCER SURVIVOR.

BUT ALL THAT, SHE SAYS, WASN'T THE HARDEST PART.

THOUGH VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPLIES HOMES FOR MALE VETS, VERY LITTLE WAS BEING DONE FOR WOMEN.

>> THE HARDEST PART OF THAT EXPERIENCE WAS BEING TOLD THAT BECAUSE I WAS A WOMAN VETERAN, THERE WAS NOTHING AVAILABLE TO ME.

THAT'S WHAT REALLY GOT ME BESIDE MYSELF, BECAUSE I WAS BASICALLY TOLD BECAUSE I WASN'T A MAN, I WAS NOT AS IMPORTANT, AND MY SERVICE WASN'T AS IMPORTANT.

>> WHAT KEPT HER GOING, SHE SAYS, WAS HER ANGER, HER DETERMINATION AND FAITH.

>> I BELIEVE GOD PUTS YOU THROUGH CERTAIN THINGS IN ORDER TO PREPARE YOU FOR A GREATER MISSION LATER ON IN LIFE.

HE DOESN'T GIVE ANYONE A FAILING MISSION OR A FAILING CALLING.

HOWEVER, HE DOESN'T GIVE YOU A ROADMAP, EITHER.

SO ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH NONPROFITS, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM OR IF IT'S GOING TO COME, BUT HE HASN'T FAILED ME, AND SO THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS SAY IT'S DIVINE INTERVENTION.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, WHICH HAS VOWED TO END HOMELESSNESS THIS YEAR FOR VETERANS, SAYS THERE'S AN ACUTE NEED TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR FEMALE VETS.

THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE FOUND THAT 60% OF SHELTERS FOR FEMALE VETS DO NOT ACCEPT CHILDREN.

BOTH THE VA AND THE GAO FOUND THAT IN THOSE SHELTERS, BASIC PROTECTIONS LIKE LOCKS AND SEPARATE FLOORS FOR MEN AND WOMEN WERE OFTEN LACKING.

>> TO PUT YOU IN A TRANSITION HOUSING FACILITY WHERE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MEN AND A FEW WOMEN TRICKLED HERE AND THERE, HOW IS THAT EVEN SAFE OR LOGICAL?

AND SOME OF THESE FACILITIES ARE COHOUSING WOMEN WITH REGISTERED MALE SEX OFFENDERS.

LIKE, HOW IS THAT -- I MEAN, WHO DOES THAT?

>> AT FINAL SALUTE, ONE OF JUST FIVE SHELTERS LIKE IT IN THE COUNTRY, BOOTHE SAYS SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP OVER 350 FEMALE VETS, LIKE HALEY ZIMMERMAN, WHO AFTER DEPLOYMENT IN AFGHANISTAN SAYS SHE WOULD HAVE ENDED UP ON SOMEBODY'S COUCH.

>> I CAN SAVE MONEY, I CAN FINISH MY SCHOOL.

IT ALLOWED ME TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS THAT I NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> FINAL SALUTE HELPED VERONICA WITHERSPOON, WHO NOW HAS A JOB.

>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE BEING IN A SORORITY.

YOU HAVE THAT CONNECTION BECAUSE YOU'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH THAT BASIC TRAINING.

YOU'VE BEEN DEPLOYED.

>> COULD YOU HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT FINAL SALUTE?

>> WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF FINAL SALUTE AND MY FAMILY, IF THEY WEREN'T THERE, I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY.

>> AND CHIQUITA PENA, NOW SUCCESSFULLY HOUSED WITH HER DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND.

>> THEY KIND OF SHOW YOU THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT'S NOT THAT BAD.

LOOK, THERE ARE OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS JUST LIKE YOU.

YOU'RE NOT A DIRT BAG.

YOU'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, A FAILURE.

>> FAILED.

>> YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE.

>> JAS BOOTHE HOPES THAT SOMEDAY, FINAL SALUTE WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

FOR NOW, SHE CONCEDES, THAT'S LITTLE MORE THAN A PIPE DREAM.

>> WE WERE CREATED TO FILL AN AMERICAN VOID.

IF I'M STILL DOING THIS 20 OR 30 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WE ARE STILL NOT GETTING IT AS A COUNTRY, AND WE'RE JUST MAKING A POOR EFFORT AS A SOCIETY TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OUR VETERANS.

WE HAVE ENOUGH WEALTH, POWER AND INFLUENCE, YOU KNOW.

WE CAN LIBERATE OTHER COUNTRIES AND CLEAR UP THEIR NATURAL DISASTERS, YOU KNOW.

WOMEN VETERANS ARE NOW AMERICA'S NATURAL DISASTER.

>> AS MORE AND MORE MILITARY WOMEN RETURN FROM SERVICE, JAS BOOTHE WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM BOTH A FINAL SALUTE, AND AN OPPORTUNITY.

FOR "RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," THIS IS BOB FAW IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

>>> IN THE MIDST OF THE VIOLENCE, DRUGS, BROKEN FAMILIES AND POVERTY THAT PLAGUE THEIR CITY, BENEDICTINE MONKS IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, HAVE FOUND WAYS TO SUCCESSFULLY EDUCATE YOUNG MEN FROM THE MOST TROUBLED NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENABLE NEARLY ALL OF THEM TO GRADUATE.

THEIR SECRET?

JUDY VALENTE REPORTS.

>> NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CITY STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME A HOST OF PROBLEMS.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 32% POVERTY RATE, THIRD HIGHEST IN HOMICIDES IN THE NATION, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, LOW ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOLS, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A CITY THAT IS IN GREAT NEED AND IS SUFFERING.

>> MARYLOU BONGIORNO IS A FILMMAKER WHO WAS WORKING ON A SERIES OF DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT HER HOMETOWN WHEN SHE DISCOVERED THIS PLACE IN NEWARK'S INNER CITY -- ST. BENEDICT'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL, LED BY A GROUP OF 13 BENEDICTINE MONKS.

WITH A STUDENT BODY THAT IS 80% AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO, THE SCHOOL HAS A NEAR PERFECT GRADUATION RATE.

95% OF LAST YEAR'S SENIOR CLASS WENT ON TO COLLEGE.

THE SECRET TO ITS SUCCESS?

ST. BENEDICT'S OPERATES MORE LIKE A MONASTERY THAN A SCHOOL.

THE MAIN SUBJECT TAUGHT HERE IS COMMUNITY.

>> YOU SEE SIGNS ALL AROUND THE PLACE, "WHATEVER HURTS MY BROTHER HURTS ME," SO TO TRY TO GET KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT, TO LIVE THAT.

THAT'S THE GREAT SENSE OF LIVING IN A MONASTERY.

>> BUT ST. BENEDICT'S IS THE SCHOOL THAT ALMOST WASN'T.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1848 TO EDUCATE THE SONS OF UPWARDLY MOBILE ITALIAN, POLISH, SLOVAK AND IRISH CATHOLICS.

BUT THE RIOTS OF 1967 DROVE MANY WHITE STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL.

AFTER THE NEWARK RIOTS, AND WITH ENROLLMENT DWINDLING, ST. BENEDICT'S PREP CLOSED FOR A YEAR.

A THIRD OF THE MONKS LEFT TO LIVE IN ANOTHER MONASTERY, BUT A CORE REMAINED BEHIND, DETERMINED TO REVIVE THIS SCHOOL.

>> WE'RE HERE AS A SIGN OF GOD'S PRESENCE OF THAT'S KIND OF WHO WE ARE AS MONKS.

WE TAKE A VOW OF STABILITY OF PLACE, SO EVEN THOUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS CHANGE AROUND US ON A REGULAR BASIS, WE STAY.

>> IT'S 9:15 A.M. TIME FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO GATHER FOR THE DAILY CONVOCATION, WHAT THE STUDENTS REFER TO AS "CONVO."

COLOR-COORDINATED SWEATSHIRTS IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENT CLASSES.

STUDENT LEADERS REPORT THE DAY'S ATTENDANCE, DISCUSS UPCOMING ACTIVITIES.

EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO SAY WHAT'S ON HIS MIND.

IN THE CENTURIES-OLD TRADITION OF MONASTERIES, THEY SING A HYMN, THEN PRAY "LAUDS," OR MORNING PRAYER.

ST. BENEDICT'S HAS 13 BUILDINGS, AN OLYMPIC-SIZE POOL, TWO GYMS AND A LARGE THEATER FOR STUDENT-LED PRODUCTIONS.

BUT FEW WHO ATTEND CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE ANNUAL $12,500 TUITION.

THE SCHOOL MUST RAISE ABOUT $6 MILLION EACH YEAR THROUGH ALUMNI DONATIONS AND GRANTS FROM CORPORATIONS, AREA FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS.

VIOLENCE OCCURS DAILY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE MANY OF THESE STUDENTS LIVE.

BUT HERE AT ST. BENEDICT'S, THERE ARE NO SECURITY MONITORS OR EVEN LOCKS ON LOCKERS.

THE EMPHASIS IS ON PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

>> SO MANY TIMES IN SCHOOLS, THEY'RE RUN SO HEAVILY FROM THE TOP DOWN.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S HELPFUL TO KIDS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG MEN OF COLOR, BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THEIR LIFE, THEY FEEL THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.

>> MUCH OF THE SCHOOL'S PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ON THE 1,600-YEAR-OLD GUIDE TO MONASTIC LIVING, "THE RULE OF ST.

BENEDICT."

>> IN TERMS OF SILENCE AND IN TERMS OF RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND COMMUNITY AND FORGIVENESS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT IN THERE THAT RESONATES WITH THEM AND I THINK IT'S ALWAYS AMAZING WHEN THEY FINALLY -- WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE RULE AND THEY SAY, "OH, THAT'S WHY WE DO THAT HERE."

>> FOR INSTANCE, STUDENTS WHO COMMIT SERIOUS INFRACTIONS, IN MOST CASES, ARE NOT SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED.

TAKING A PAGE DIRECTLY OUT OF ST. BENEDICT'S RULE, THEY ARE EXCOMMUNICATED FOR A TIME FROM THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

>> YOU'RE TRYING TO GET THEM TO REFLECT ON THEIR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY, SO YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN JAHEER JONES, AN OTHERWISE STELLAR STUDENT, GOT INTO AN UNCHARACTERISTIC FIGHT WITH ANOTHER STUDENT, FATHER EDWIN REQUIRED HIM TO ASSIST AT MASS ON SATURDAY NIGHTS AND PARTICIPATE IN A BIBLE STUDY.

LIKE MOST OF THE 536 STUDENTS HERE, JONES IS NOT CATHOLIC.

HE'S A PENTECOSTAL PROTESTANT.

HIS MOTHER WELCOMES THE EMPHASIS ON CATHOLIC MONASTIC PRACTICES.

>> THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT THE MONKS HAVE WITH THE STUDENTS, I DO LIKE THE WAY THEY TALK TO THEM.

I LIKE THE WAY THEY TREAT THEM.

I LIKE THE WAY THAT THEY GIVE THEM A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND A SENSE REALLY OF HOPE.

>> MUQKA POOLE WAS IMPRESSED BY A COUSIN WHO ATTENDED ST. BENEDICT'S AND THEN WENT ON TO COLLEGE.

>> GOING TO COLLEGE ISN'T SOMETHING I'M USED TO OR MY FAMILY IS USED TO.

SO WHEN I HEARD THIS, I WAS SURPRISED.

SO HE TOLD ME, "MUQKA, YOU GOTTA GO THERE.

YOU GOTTA GO TO ST. BENEDICT'S PREP."

>> MUQKA HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY IN MINNESOTA.

HE IS ONE OF THE 60 STUDENTS WHO LIVE ON CAMPUS IN A BUILDING NEXT TO THE MONASTERY.

>> WELL, MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS.

IF I WASN'T LIVING HERE, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I'D PROBABLY BE HERE AT 11:30 AT NIGHT ANYWAY.

>> THERE IS ALSO A STRONG EMPHASIS ON COUNSELING, WHICH TAKES PLACE DAILY, AS IF IT WERE A CORE SUBJECT.

>> NONE OF US LIKES TO LOOK AT OURSELVES WHEN THINGS ARE DIFFICULT.

>> GROUPS LIKE UNKNOWN SONS, WHOSE MEMBERS NEVER KNEW OR HAVE LITTLE CONTACT WITH THEIR DADS.

>> I'M HERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER.

>> I'M HERE BECAUSE I DON'T TALK TO MY DAD AT ALL.

>> I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M HURTING SO BAD ON THE INSIDE, BUT I CAN'T SHOW YOU BECAUSE I'M A MAN.

AND IF I'M A MAN OF COLOR, THE ONLY WAY I CAN EXPRESS AN EMOTION IS VIOLENTLY.

>> WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED IS A LOT OF WHAT MANIFESTS ITSELF OUTWARDLY AS POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE HAS VERY LITTLE IF ANYTHING TO DO WITH COGNITION.

I MEAN, IT HAS TO DO WITH EMOTIONAL DISTRESS THAT A YOUNG MAN'S GOING THROUGH, SO THAT THEY BEGIN TO TURN THAT ANGER IN ON THEMSELVES AND LITTLE BY LITTLE DESTROY THEMSELVES.

>> BUT ST. BENEDICT'S CAN'T ALWAYS PROTECT ITS STUDENTS FROM OUTSIDE INFLUENCES.

TYRONE HEGGINS WAS A STUDENT LEADER WHO WENT ON TO THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE.

BUT JUST SIX WEEKS BEFORE HIS COLLEGE GRADUATION -- >> I PARTICIPATED IN AN ARMED ROBBERY WITH THREE OTHER STUDENTS, WHICH LED TO MY INCARCERATION FOR THREE YEARS.

>> HE SERVED HIS TIME, AND A COURT HAS SINCE EXPUNGED HIS CRIMINAL RECORD.

HE NOW WORKS FOR A CORPORATION WHERE HE'S BEEN PLACED ON A MANAGEMENT TRACK.

TEACHERS COLLEGE AT NEW YORK'S COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IS CONSIDERING WRITING A STUDY GUIDE THAT USES ST. BENEDICT'S AS A MODEL FOR URBAN EDUCATION.

FATHER EDWIN SAYS HE'S ASKED ALL THE TIME IF ST. BENEDICT'S METHODS CAN BE REPLICATED ELSEWHERE.

>> I THINK TWO THINGS ARE ESSENTIAL.

WHOEVER IS THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL NEEDS TO LIVE THERE.

IT NEEDS TO BE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT YOU'VE GOTTA -- IT SEEMS TO ME YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF COMMUNITY PRESENT.

>> AS WITH MOST AMERICAN MONASTERIES, FEW MONKS HAVE JOINED NEWARK ABBEY IN RECENT YEARS.

THERE IS SOME CONCERN ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE SCHOOL IF THE MONASTIC COMMUNITY DOESN'T GROW.

AND RAISING $6 MILLION A YEAR IS ALWAYS A BATTLE.

FATHER EDWIN SAYS HE DOESN'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WORRYING.

>> ALL YOU CAN -- I CAN HEAR IS THE VOICE OF THE LORD TO MOSES, GO FORWARD.

DON'T STOP.

AND A WAY WILL OPEN.

>> FATHER EDWIN SAYS, IN THE END, IT'S ALL ABOUT TEACHING THESE YOUNG MEN THAT THEIR LIVES HAVE MEANING.

>> "WHO AM I?

WHAT AM I HERE FOR?"

NOW WHEN YOU TALK TO A TEENAGER ABOUT THAT, THEY LOOK AT YOU, THEY ROLL THEIR EYES.

SO YOU TEACH SO THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO REFER TO WHEN THESE QUESTIONS BEGIN TO WELL UP IN THEIR HEART ABOUT THE MEANING OF LIFE, THE MEANING OF THEIR LIFE, THEIR LIFE IN THE FACE OF DEATH AND WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN.

>> AND AS LONG AS THERE IS EVEN A SINGLE MONK LEFT, FATHER EDWIN SAYS THAT IS THE MISSION ST. BENEDICT'S PREP WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT IN THE HEART OF THIS CITY.

FOR "RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," I'M JUDY VALENTE IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

>>> FINALLY ON OUR CALENDAR SUNDAY IS SUNDAY IS PENTECOST FOR WESTERN CHRISTIANS.

ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT, ON PENTECOST, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME TO JESUS' FOLLOWERS IN THE FORM OF TONGUES OF FIRE.

AND FOR JEWS, THE HOLIDAY OF SHAVUOT IS THIS WEEKEND.

SHAVUOT MARKS THE GIVING OF THE TORAH TO MOSES ON MOUNT SINAI.

SOME JEWS GATHER IN SYNAGOGUES AND HOMES TO STUDY THE TORAH ALL NIGHT LONG.

IT'S ALSO A HARVEST FESTIVAL, WHICH MANY CELEBRATE BY EATING DAIRY FOODS, LIKE CHEESECAKE.

>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

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THERE IS ALSO MUCH MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, WHERE YOU CAN LISTEN TO OR WATCH EVERY PROGRAM.

JOIN US AT PBS.ORG.

♪♪