Seventy percent of the students who enter the program graduate. The Café follows each student’s progress for four months and has found that 60 percent work the entire time. This is a remarkable success rate considering that before coming to Reconcile, these kids were virtually unemployable.

Café Reconcile owns the five-story building that houses the restaurant, the only part of the building that has been developed. When the remaining four floors are developed, the second floor will become a catering hall for banquets, which will provide another source of revenue as well as another level of training. This floor will also house a culinary school under the sponsorship of Emeril Lagasse, one of New Orleans’ most famous chefs.

The third floor will house a family learning center in collaboration with Loyola University and the Literary Alliance. The fourth floor will contain a business-accelerator program run by the Good Network Alliance for women and minorities, and the fifth floor will house administrative offices for all of Café Reconcile’s programs.

“We sometimes just plant the seed with people, and it grows into a whole new awareness,” Sister Mary Lou said. “Café Reconcile started simply in response to an overwhelming need. Its growth will allow us to give young people who come to us even more opportunities.”

Father Allan Weinert, C.Ss.R., is financial secretary for the Denver Province of Redemptorists. Father Weinert was editor of Liguorian from 1989 to 2002.