Some 9,000 Catholic school students of the Diocese of Trenton used May 1, the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, to reach out to their communities across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties during the inaugural “Catholic Schools Do It All” Day of Service.
Click HERE to view photo gallery of various schools performing works of service.
Representing 31 Catholic elementary schools and two high schools, the students participated in the special day, which was a spin-off of the newly-launched diocesan awareness campaign, “Catholic Schools Have It All.” They participated in a myriad of activities designed to aid those in need, thank those who have contributed to their communities and to improve their own neighborhoods.
Pre-K through 12th-grade students, many dressed in school uniforms or gymwear, performed services that ranged from reading to children in a residential program, visiting with seniors, cleaning public spaces and collecting food for the needy. Schools chronicled the service day on social networks via the project hashtag, #CatholicSchoolsDoItAll.
Bishop O’Connell affirmed the efforts of all who played a role in the Day of Service, and underscored that acts of service make up an integral part of the daily experience in Catholic schools. “Having a day like this in which all of our schools participate is so important because it demonstrates what a significant difference we can make together,” he said.
At St. Rose School, Belmar, a phalanx of teachers and students from grades one to eight sported blue school sweatshirts as they were escorted by a Belmar police car with patrol lights flashing up Sixth Avenue to the town’s Silver Lake and Atlantic Ocean shorelines to pick up trash.
Second and third grade classes exuded boundless energy as they ran along the beach, trailing billowing black plastic garbage bags clutched tightly in their clear latex-gloved hands. Tiny hands picked up sneakers, fence posts, plastic bags, balloons and fishing hooks, among other trash.
With each new discovery bagged, the students professed the joy of protecting beachgoers and marine life along the shoreline. “This helps the environment,” third grade student Bryce LeMoult said as he placed a fishing hook into the trash bag.
Students and teachers in St. Raphael School, Hamilton, collaborated on their Day of Service activity, with students voicing the desire to “help kids like us,” reported Principal Ann Cwirko. After learning that some of the campers in the Mercer County CYO summer and after school programs often lack necessary items for their trips to local pools, the children took action.
The students carried the 75 assembled bags into the cafeteria and presented the backpacks to Quincy Walzer, assistant director of the Mercer County CYO’s after school and summer camp program, and John Soss, CYO Ewing’s special activities coordinator.
St. Raphael School also participates in several standing projects throughout the school year.
There are nearly 17,000 Catholic school students in kindergarten through high school across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties.
For more on the diocesan campaign “Catholic Schools Have It All,” and to view a video message from Bishop O’Connell.