Lessons Learned in the DR

By Kim Cavallero
With my flight back to the United States tomorrow, my week here in the Dominican Republic is winding to a close. It’s been quite an adventure and I am thankful to Holy Child Sisters Kathleen King, Mary Alice Minogue, and Ann-Joyce Peters, for warmly welcoming me into their community, along with the three Holy Child Volunteers, Brooke, Kristen, and Elle, who are living here for a year and teaching in the school at the Society’s mission site. I’m come a long way since arriving last week—and I’ve learned a few lessons along the way. Here’s a quick rundown of a few—some more humorous than others.

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Lesson #1 – Mosquito netting is important.
Make sure your mosquito netting is tucked in fully all around your bed and/or that you don’t trap any mosquitoes inside the net with you. Fail to do it right and you will wake up with at least 7-10 mosquito bites. Pack some hydrocortisone. (I could have used it.)

Lesson #2 – Hot water and water pressure are overrated. Compassion and humor are not.
When I first arrived last Saturday, Sister Ann-Joyce was showing me the “shower,” which essentially is a single stream of cold water running from a faucet. I’m sure she could see the horrified look on my face, but quite calmly and humorously, she just looked at me and said, “Well, it’s not going to win a prize or anything, but you know….”

A few days later, she showed me how to heat up some water so you could have some warm water with which to take a shower. She then showed me different pitchers you can use to pour the warm water over your head and said, “Everyone establishes her own system.” I took her word for it. After heating the water, I hopped in the shower. A few moments later, she yelled in, “How are you doing in there, Kim? You think you might stay a few more days?” I still wonder what she would have done if I had said, “No!” The point is I adapted and got used to it thanks to Sister Ann-Joyce’s humor and compassion! (I will say that hand sanitizer, cleansing face wipes, and dry shampoo are helpful to have here.)

Lesson #3 – Bring earplugs or a desire to dance the night (and day) away.
Roosters don’t just crow in the early morning hours. They like to crow at all times of the day and night. In addition, the people here love to play music—all the time. There is a constant, steady stream of noise: roosters, chickens, dogs, music, and people yelling. Silence is not important here. If it is to you, bring some earplugs!

Lesson #4 – Living without electricity isn’t so bad.
Where I am staying, the electricity is usually on from about 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the evening until 9:00 a.m. the next morning. In the U.S., when the electricity goes out—even for a few hours—it is a huge inconvenience for many of us. Here, it is a way of life and people just go about their day. They’re flexible and they adapt. Nonetheless, be sure to use a surge protector or risk blowing out electronic items such as your computer’s AC power source. (I’ll be buying a new one next week.)

Lesson #5 – Don’t jump to the worst conclusion. There are good people everywhere.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a very organized person (some might say in a neurotic way!), but this trip has thrown me for a loop and my organizational skills have disappeared into thin air! For example, yesterday, after doing some sight seeing in the city, we arrived home and I soon realized that my wallet was missing. I tore apart suitcases and bags—anywhere I thought it might be, but it didn’t turn up.

Within a few hours, I had canceled my credit and bank cards, assuming I had been pick-pocketed. The last place I remembered having it was in a shop where I had made a purchase. I had the receipt and asked Sister Ann-Joyce if she would be willing to call the store and ask them in Spanish if I had left my wallet there. It was a long shot, but it was my only shot.

Sister Ann-Joyce called the store this morning and sure enough they had it and were holding it for me. They explained that they didn’t have any way to contact me, which is why they hadn’t called. There are good people all over the world who do the right thing.

Homeward Bound
This week has been an adventure. It has challenged and stretched me to grow in ways I never imagined. I have seen people living in extreme poverty in Batey Lecheria and yet, they are full of gratitude for the simple gift of your presence. I arrived in fear last week, but am departing in peace tomorrow—and full of gratitude. Read Kim’s first and second blog posts.

Kim Cavallero is the Director of Communications for the Society of the Holy Child Jesus – American Province.

Between Heaven and Hell

By Kim Cavallero

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There is a stark contrast here in the Dominican Republic’s Batey Lecheria, where the Sisters of the Holy Child began a mission site in 1995. I heard one person describe it as “being between heaven and hell.” You look up and see a brilliant blue sky, lush green palm trees, and fluffy white clouds. You look down and see dirt roads, barely habitable shacks, and half-clothed children, many who have been abused and/or abandoned. They run through the streets and cling to anyone who they think will give them attention. Today, I was almost knocked over as four children, whom I had never met, grabbed onto me at the same time and wouldn’t let go.

But this week, the children of Batey Lecheria have been getting some extra attention, as have many of the residents here. Twelve parishioners from St. Luke’s in Charlotte, NC arrived on Monday morning to give a week of their time and energy to this community. This is the seventh year St. Luke’s has embarked on a mission trip here. The parishioners each paid $400 to come, with the remaining cost of the trip ($450 per person) raised through fund-raisers held throughout the year at St. Luke’s. Click here to hear from parishioner Jamar McKoy, who is making his first trip to Batey Lecheria this week.

Inspiring Experiences

Here in Batey Lecheria, the parishioners have undertaken a hodgepodge of activities this week: painting the shacks; playing baseball with the children; teaching the children how to paint and tie-dye t-shirts; and organizing and leading classes for the women in how to make sock dolls, jewelry, and other items that are then sold in the U.S. for a fair profit, which is returned to the women.

“You get a whole new sense of poverty here,” says parishioner Amber Ockerbloom. “There is a constant need. You can’t come once and not come again. You have to be open to what you are going to do because there’s always a place to do something here.” Along with Ockerbloom, parishioners Debby and Jim Lawrence share that you get as much as you give in Batey Lecheria, noting that the love they receive from the residents is so much more than they give to them.

A “Self-Sustaining” Trip

In addition to giving their time, the St. Luke’s parishioners bring suitcases full of donated medical supplies for the medical clinic the Sisters of the Holy Child began and run at the mission site, as well as all the supplies for the different projects they undertake such as painting the houses and making sock dolls. At the end of the trip, they leave the clothes they wore during the week for the residents of Batey Lecheria, who later sell them and make a small profit. “We clean out our closets or we go to Good Will before we leave the U.S. and buy the clothes we will need for the trip,” explains parishioner Cindy Platko. The parishioners also buy the suitcases that they bring the medical supplies in at Good Will and then leave the suitcases behind.

Platko, who is a school nurse, and her husband, Greg, lived with the Sisters of the Holy Child for a year, while serving the residents of Batey Lecheria. The couple had done mission trips to Batey Lecheria and felt they could do so much more by serving for a longer period of time alongside the Sisters of the Holy Child. They now return to Batey Lecheria twice a year. “Coming here is like coming home and seeing family for me,” shares Platko. During return trips, Platko spends her afternoons making house calls to residents. For example, she brings aspirin to a woman whose hip was broken and never repaired four years ago.

Platko and her husband are akin to celebrities in Batey Lecheria, though they certainly are too humble and focused on the work at hand to consider their “celebrity status.” Since the moment they arrived, shouts for “Cindy” and “Gregorio” (as the residents call Greg) never end. The residents are thrilled to see them and they bring joy wherever they go in Batey Lecheria, just as all the St. Luke’s parishioners who are here this week have. “We’re a parish of action,” says Ockerbloom. How exciting it is for the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus to see so many people committed to the motto of their congregation: “Actions Not Words.” Read Kim’s first and last blog post from her journey.

Kim Cavallero is the Director of Communications for the Society of the Holy Child Jesus – American Province.

What’s the point?

By Kim Cavallero

A typical home in Batey Lecheria.

When I landed in the Dominican Republic last Saturday to visit the mission site that the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus founded in 1995, I thought I knew what to expect. It would be hot, there would not always be running water (and when there was it would be cold), and the electricity would go on and off in the convent where I’m staying. (To say I was a little apprehensive about this trip would simply be a gross understatement.) What I didn’t expect was the joy, meaning, and deep inspiration I would find in people living in the worst kind of poverty I have ever experienced.

First Glimpse
Yesterday began early, as I awoke to the clucking and crowing of the chickens and roosters who wander freely through the streets—what an alarm clock they are. They wake early and like to make sure you do too! By 7:30, I was walking with Sister Kathleen King and Sister Ann-Joyce Peters to meet Tony, who drove us to Batey Lecheria, where the mission site is located. Riding in the back of an old pick-up truck and driving just under three miles to Batey Lecheria, paved roads became dirt roads and houses made of concrete turned to houses made of rotted wood and rusted siding.

Students at the school the Sisters of the Holy Child founded in the Dominican Republic recite prayers and songs as they begin their day.

Jumping out of the back of the pick-up truck, I had my first glimpse of the medical clinic and school the Sisters of the Holy Child have begun. The area is enclosed with a fence and it stands strong among a community of worn-down shacks where the people live. Upon first glance, the community appears dismal. But then you begin to see more than 100 children who go to the school, reciting songs and prayers. Like children anywhere, they are smiling and laughing—and some are even causing trouble! When they see my camera, they quickly begin posing and asking to have their “foto” taken. They seem oblivious to the environment in which they live—of course it is all they have ever known.

In talking with Sister Mary Alice Minogue, who is the director of the school, I learn that many of the children do not go to school beyond the age of 12 or 13 and many will regress at that point. I begin to struggle to make sense of all the work the Sisters do here and the fact that they are not likely to see the kind of results for which we Americans strive.

Tapping Wisdom

Residents of the batey stand outside their house and talk with the volunteers from St. Luke

There is a group of parishioners from St. Luke’s parish in Charlotte, NC visiting this week to do a mission project (more about them later this week). They have come for several years and talking with them is reassuring. They share that the work the Sisters do is “shelter from the storm” for the people of Batey Lecheria. And they also begin to share the progress they have seen. For example, when they first started coming to Batey Lecheria, the women would not work together, but rather, they competed with one another. Now the women can sit at a table and work together as they make dolls and jewelry that are sold in the United States (the profits are returned to the women—more about that also later this week.).

Another of the missioners says that every time he comes here, he feels there is so much that needs to be done and that he always has to remind himself that everything that God wants done will be done by the time he leaves Batey Lecheria at the end of the week. One of the lay volunteers from the United States who is doing a year of service teaching in the school as a Holy Child Volunteer says that she had to become comfortable with knowing that she probably will not see the results of her work here within her lifetime. Another volunteer shares what Sister Ann-Joyce says, “Something is something.”

I soon realize that I am trying to impose my American ideals on Batey Lecheria. My American ideal of progress is not accurate. The work the Sisters are doing here is slow and often painstaking, but it’s essential. The Sisters and the lay partners who work with them are building a community among the people. That’s the first step. It will not happen overnight, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth building. In fact, that makes it even more essential. It will happen in God’s time. Faith is essential here. The Sisters are ensuring that the people of Batey Lecheria—who seem to have been forgotten by the rest of society and the world—know that they matter.

I knew I would be challenged by this journey, but I was naïve in thinking I knew how. I will admit that not having a hot shower and constant electricity is challenging, but trying to reconcile the reality of life in Batey Lecheria is even more so. Read Kim’s second and third blog posts.

Kim Cavallero is the Director of Communications for the Society of the Holy Child Jesus – American Province.

Calling Members of the Holy Child Family: Help us mark our 150th Anniversary

As you may have heard, the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus are celebrating their 150th anniversary of serving in the United States this year. To mark this anniversary, the Sisters are making a quilt with highlights from the last 150 years.

If you are an alum of any of the schools below, we need your help! You are invited to make squares for the quilt of your Holy Child memories.

Schools That Need Squares

1. Towanda (PA)
2. Assumption (PA)
3. St. James (PA)
4. St. Elizabeth (NYC)
5. St. Agatha (PA)
6. Hayes Ave., Chicago (IL)
7. St. Veronica (PA)
8. St. Ignatius (IL)
9. St. Mary’s, Melrose (MA)
10. Suffern (NY)
11. Sheridan Ave. (IL)
12. North Shore (IL)
13. Glenwood (IL)
14. Sts. Peter and Paul (NY)
15. St. Lucy (PA)
16. Our Lady of Humility (IL)
17. Assumption (CA)
18. J.W. Hallahan (PA)
19. West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School (PA)
20. Goretti (PA)
21. Prendergast High School (PA)

You do not have to be a quilter to do this! You just need a little imagination and/or help from someone you know who may be a sewer or quilter. If you would like to make a square, please contact Sr. Rosemarie Tedesco at rtedesco@shcj.org or Marian Kennedy Voorhees at mkvoorhees@roadrunner.com for details.

Squares need to be submitted by June 1, 2012 and are to be sent to:

Marian Voorhees
342 Camino Real Rd.
Mooresville, NC 28117 

Squares will be assembled by our quilters and exhibited during the celebrations in Philadelphia, PA in October 2012. After that, it will be available for display in our schools, at alumnae or Associate meetings, at parent functions, etc. If you have questions, please contact Sr. Rosemarie Tedesco at rtedesco@shcj.org or Marian Kennedy Voorhees at mkvoorhees@roadrunner.com.

Making A Difference: Hotels Respond to Nuns’ Initiative to Raise Awareness About Sex Trafficking before Super Bowl

Earlier this week, we asked you to join us in prayer, as we work to stop human trafficking at this year’s Super Bowl. Incidents of human trafficking—or modernday slavery—tend to spike alongside major sporting events to meet the high demand for commercial sex.

However, thanks to an initiative launched by a group of 11 orders of Catholic women religious in Indiana and Michigan, in collaboration with state and local officials and organizations, hotels in the Indianapolis area are better equipped to recognize and help victims of human trafficking. The goal of the initiative is to raise awareness about human trafficking, assure that hotel staff receives appropriate training, and distribute educational materials to hotels willing to make them available in lobbies and guest rooms.

About 45 sisters and associates from seven religious orders in Indiana and Michigan made calls to 220 hotels within a 50-mile radius of Indianapolis between January 8 and 17. The hotel managers were asked four questions:

1. Have employees received training to recognize potential occurrences of human trafficking in their hotels?
2. Is there a protocol in place for hotel employees to document and report possible incidences of trafficking?
3. Are hotel employees/managers aware of the local groups working to end trafficking?
4. Is the hotel willing to make anti-trafficking information available to guests?

Of the 220 hotels that were contacted, 200 hotel managers provided responses. As a result of these phone calls, seven hotels requested training prior to the Super Bowl to help their employees recognize trafficking situations and how to assist victims. In addition, 99 hotels asked for materials that include:

• Brochures about human trafficking for staff and guests;
• Copies of the ECPAT (Ending Child Prostitution and Trafficking) Code of Conduct developed by the hospitality industry to deter child sexual exploitation; and
• Local anti-trafficking contact information, such as a 24-hour victim assistance hotline, safe houses, and police and law enforcement officials.

“We are very gratified by the responses from hotel managers and pleased that they made time to talk and work with us in this very busy season,” said Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Ann Oestreich, co-chair of the Coalition for Corporate Responsibility for Indiana and Michigan (CCRIM) which is coordinating the Super Bowl 2012 Anti-Trafficking Initiative. “From the phone calls we also learned that 45 hotels previously had conducted or were planning to conduct human trafficking awareness training for their employees, so they are well along the path of socially responsible business practice.”

The 11 orders of women religious who are members of CCRIM have invested in hotel chains to address the issue of human trafficking in the hospitality industry. Since June 2011, they have been collaborating with state and local officials to curb human trafficking during festivities leading up to the Super Bowl.

“We may never know how many people may be helped as a result of this initiative,” said Sister Ann, who also is congregation justice coordinator for the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind., “If even one person is freed from this kind of slavery or one trained hotel employee recognizes a trafficking situation or one guest knowledgeable about trafficking reports a concern to the front desk, then we are that much closer to ending the exploitation of vulnerable people, particularly women and girls.”

She added, “The positive results from this initiative could only be accomplished by many groups working together against trafficking. We are deeply grateful for the collaboration by all the orders of women religious and their associates, college students and especially the IPATH Task Force that has worked so hard in Indianapolis to raise awareness, provide needed services and coordinate training.”

The U.S. State Department estimates that between 14,500 and 18,000 persons—many of them women and children—are trafficked into the country each year. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center reported that over 11,800 calls were made to its hotline regarding sex trafficking in 2010, including calls from the state of Indiana.

“Human trafficking” is an umbrella term for activities in which one person obtains or holds another in compelled service through threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability. Forms of human trafficking include the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery or similar practices, and the removal of organs.

Often described as a modern form of slavery, human trafficking occurs across borders or domestically. The United Nations estimates that 700,000 to 4 million women and children are trafficked around the world for purposes of forced prostitution, labor and other forms of exploitation every year. Trafficking is estimated to be a $15.5 billion annual business in the United States alone, according to the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. We ask you to continue to pray with us, as we work to end human trafficking.

Pray with us to end human trafficking

Millions of Americans look forward to the Super Bowl every year, but for too many, large public entertainment events mean extreme vulnerability to one of the most horrific crimes of this century: human trafficking. This year, 11 congregations of Catholic Sisters said “enough!” and partnered with one another to make a difference.  While the Super Bowl is a celebration, the work of these sisters is dedicated to making sure that the exploitation of women is not a part of it.  We invite you to join with us in praying this prayer to end trafficking between now and the Super Bowl on February 5, 2012. Won’t you challenge yourself to pray this daily with us? Together, we CAN and do make a difference…

Creator of all of us, our words cannot express
what our minds can barely comprehend and our hearts feel
when we hear of children and adults
deceived and transported to unknown places
for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor
because of human greed.

Our hearts are saddened and our spirits angry
that their dignity and rights are being transgressed
through threats, deception and force.  We cry out
against the degrading practice of trafficking
and seek ways for it to end.

Strengthen the fragile-spirited and broken-hearted. 
Make real your promises to fill these our sisters and brothers
with a love that is tender and good
and send the exploiters away empty-handed.  Give us
the wisdom and courage to stand in solidarity with them,
that together we will find ways to the freedom
that is your gift to all of us. Amen.

–Gen Cassani, SSND (used with permission)

Holy Child Academy’s Motto “Actions Not Words” Impacts the Community

Holy Child Academy students spend time with a resident of St. Francis Country House in Darby, PA.

In 1927, the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus began Holy Child Academy (HCA) in Drexel Hill, PA. Today, 85 years later, the School continues to embody the Sisters’ motto of “Actions Not Words.” Take a look at all HCA students did during their first semester!

The school organized a host of activities that served the poor and needy, senior adults, and our furry friends! In honor of St. Francis Assisi feast day, the students asked for donated pet products for the Delaware County SPCA located in Media.  In November, Holy Child Academy Parents’ Association organized a Thanksgiving food drive for 24 families.  In December, gently worn coats were collected for the poor. Twelve bags of clothing were donated between Divine Mercy Parish in Philadelphia and the Community Action Agency of Delaware County. 

Under the direction of Holy Child Academy’s service coordinator, Ms. Anne Wood, students have been collaborating with St. Francis Country House, a skilled nursing and short term rehabilitation facility in Darby, PA. In November, five folks from St. Francis along with seven employees/volunteers spent a few hours at Holy Child Academy.  Our guests were treated to an arts and craft project, a singing performance by the Pre-Kindergarten class, and lunch with the students.  

In December, Holy Child Academy’s eighth-grade students took a short drive to St. Francis Country House for a visit with their friends. The time was spent socializing and doing a fun project. According to Ms. Wood, the students and St. Francis residents are forming a strong bond. “The visits, activities, and socialization have been a wonderful experience for both St. Francis and Holy Child. The men and women at St. Francis are lovely and gracious. They light up when we visit. For our students, I see them becoming more compassionate, respectful, and aware of the importance that elders have in our society.”  

For the Christmas season, the third- and fifth-graders decorated 60 snack bags for the Community Food Program of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Nutritional Development Services.  In late December, the older students paired with their younger “buddy” students to make Christmas cards for the patients at Delaware County Memorial Hospital.

In planning the spring service projects, the students’ openness to grow and to help others will remain a priority, and the activities will center on Holy Child Academy’s philosophy of “Actions Not Words.” Find out how you can make a difference through Holy Child programs.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

“I am so busy.”

“I have too much on my plate.”

“I don’t know if I’m coming or going.”

 

How often have we uttered these words or heard them spoken by friends and family members? In a world that runs 24/7, it is essential to slow down, take stock, and pray.

Since 2010, the American Province of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus has created monthly meditations that are posted on our website. Designed to be topical and encourage reflection on modern themes, the meditations have been a source of comfort and strength for many.

In preparing topics for our 2012 meditations, we examined the issues that were grabbing the headlines–poverty, unemployment, war, and more. We understand that these issues have a profound impact on the lives of many. To determine which concerns resonate most with the members of our Holy Child community, we invite all to complete our survey by this Friday, January 6, 2012. It will take less than three minutes to complete and will greatly inform our meditations for 2012. To date, we’ve had close to 400 people­ respond and share their thoughts. Let your voice be heard too! Complete the survey today!

Based on the survey responses, we will produce three-five minute meditations that can be viewed on our website. We hope the members of the Holy Child Community—and beyond—will use these meditations to find peace in their lives and help in building a worldwide community of prayer.

Advent and Lenten Resources

By Sister Terri MacKenzie, SHCJ

Once again this year I have written material for group use during Advent and Lent. These programs are meant to help participants grow in understanding God’s presence and action is us and in our world and deepen responses to new scientific insights about creation.

Advent: Incarnational Spirituality in the Light of the New Universe Story is written for Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ), Associates, and friends. Others are welcome to use it, but will notice that it’s directed to the family of Cornelia Connelly (Foundress of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus). This material follows the Scriptures for Advent 2011. Click here to download. The SHCJ Theology Committee will provide material for our Epiphany retreat that will be distributed later. The Advent and Epiphany materials are meant to complement one another.

Lent: This year’s Lent material focuses on air. Denial of air pollution and global warming is growing each year in the U.S., and the resulting damage is hurting all of creation. This denial often results from thinking of these issues as political rather than as religious. Renewing the Face of the Earth: Lenten Reflections on Air aims to assist believers in deepening their faith-filled understanding of these matters. 

The Scriptural and metaphorical aspects of Air were a pleasure for me to explore; more challenging was understanding the history and composition of air. I was very fortunate to find a scientist who helped me understand the concepts and avoid both over-simplifying and over-confusing readers.

Starting with quotes from Scripture, material includes poetry, a summary of the Vatican’s ”Report by the Working Group Commissioned by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences” on global warming, and a final prayer service.

Hoping it could be listed somewhere, I sent Air to, e.g., the Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Office in Rome, Sisters of Earth, and the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale. I am astonished by the positive responses! JPIC Rome listed all the SHCJ Advent and Lent resources as “excellent”; the Zygon Center for Religion and Science in Chicago said of Air: “It’s thoughtfully conceived, helpfully organized, and attractively illustrated, and I am moved by the blending of Christian tradition, interfaith perspectives, and scientific content.” My favorite reply came from the Justice Education Office, Archdiocese of Chicago: “I thank God for the Charism of your religious community . . . .”

 The material has eco-friendly “packaging” and can be downloaded free.

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child Jesus Celebrates Founder’s Day on October 13

Students in the Lower School at the Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, NJ marked Founder's Day with their "prayer families."

On October 13, students at the Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, NJ, recognized Founder’s Day, the day 165 years ago that Cornelia Connelly began the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in Derby, England. Founder’s Day is also referred to as St. Edward’s Day by members of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus because the day is also the Feast of Saint Edward.

“It’s so amazing,” said Oak Knoll student Noelle Villa ’12. “If there were no founders, no Cornelia Connelly, I wouldn’t have the education I’m getting today. Founder’s Day represents the legacy Cornelia Connelly started for us.”

Carmen M. Chavez, Esq., Executive Director of the Casa Cornelia Law Center in San Diego, CA, visited the Upper School at Oak Knoll to talk about how the spirit of Cornelia Connelly lives on not just through the Holy Child schools but also through organizations such as the Casa Cornelia Law Center.

The Casa Cornelia Law Center (CCLC) was founded by the Sisters of the Holy Child in 1993 and provides pro bono legal services for immigrants in three areas: asylum, domestic violence, and children. While Mrs. Chavez detailed some of her work with CCLC, she also spoke about spiritual growth and enrichment, encouraging each student to remember that the decisions they make today will impact them and others tomorrow.

“Having a speaker—as we have tried to do these past few years—allows our students and teachers to see that Holy Child is bigger than Oak Knoll and even bigger than the Holy Child schools,” said Kathleen Lynch, Theology Department Chair. And that’s just what students said they learned through Mrs. Chavez’s presentation.

“We are all united under one spirit,” said Oak Knoll student Rachael Edelson ’12.

While many students said they knew that the Holy Child Network extended beyond the walls of Oak Knoll and the other Holy Child schools, they didn’t know about the Casa Cornelia Law Center.

“I feel so blessed to be a part of this community,” Noelle said. “It’s set in tradition yet always evolving. It’s great that we have those roots to fall back on.”

Students remarked how incredible it is that the principles and values that were instilled by Cornelia Connelly are still relevant and applicable in today’s changing world, as shown by the work of CCLC.

“It’s amazing how strong the network is,” said Allison Donini ’12, saying that it’s inspiring to know that as the students graduate and move through the world, they will likely encounter others who share their beliefs and values and fellow members of the Holy Child family.

Students in the Lower School celebrated Founder’s Day with their own Oak Knoll tradition: prayer families. Prayer families are small groups of students in kindergarten through grade six that gather to share prayers and reflection. Administration, faculty, and staff are part of each group, which is led by a sixth-grade student.

Dr. Michele Dahl, the Lower School Religion Coordinator at Oak Knoll, said she decided to recognize Founder’s Day with a “prayer families lunch” because it fit in with the values on which Cornelia Connelly founded the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

“I think Cornelia Connelly was about fun,” Dr. Dahl said. “She would want the kids to be giggling and getting to know each other and seeing God in each other.”

Dr. Dahl also said Founder’s Day is just a few days before National Mix-It-Up Day on October 18 which encourages students to sit with new people in the lunchroom to help foster tolerance and acceptance of differences. “It gives kids an opportunity to have that sense of fun and camaraderie,” Dr. Dahl said. “[Cornelia Connelly] would have enjoyed that.”