Building a Better World

This time an S.O.S. was put out to our Senior Campus Ministers, Sisters of the Spirit.

Their CALL TO ACTION was to help make a dream come true.

Sisters of the Spirit headed to Morristown to help finish building a home for Habitat for Humanity. As they worked hard on a most beautiful autumn day, they prayed that the homeowners would enjoy their new home. "Habitat for Humanity puts an end to poverty housing." Together, we can and are making our world a better place.

Sending Peace into the World

Listening with the ear of their hearts to the recent tragedy at Rutgers University and remembering Columbine, PBJ answered THE CALL and went into action.

Our Peace & Justice Campus Ministers made 295 origami peace cranes in an effort to spread the message of Peace into our communities. The Peace cranes originated with a little girl named Sadako, who had lived over fifty years ago.

Sadako was a little girl who had leukemia as a result of the explosion of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima. She started to fold paper cranes in the hospital a year before she was to die. Her wish was that there would be no more war in the world and only peace would prevail on earth.
We continue this practice of Peace at Benedictine Academy. Our Campus Ministers wrote a message of peace on each of the wings of the paper cranes. These peace cranes will fly free over Dr. Michael Fowlin at the conclusion of his presentation next week. It is the first part of our program to raise awareness against hatred and bullying. The Peace & Justice Club's Mission is to promote peace and protect the inherent dignity of every human being.

PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY DRIVE

We had a CALL TO ACTION from the

Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless.

Their food pantry was very low and in need of replenishing. Due to the recession, their guest list has grown dramatically and they were in need of HELP! Benedictine Academy's STUDENTS IN ACTION heard the cry of the poor and went into action.

They elicited the aid of a dear friend, Eddie, to pick up boxes of donated bread from Panera Bread. The Franciscan Sisters also responded to the need by donating two HUGE 5 lb. jars of peanut butter. Then, the entire school community bonded together by wearing jeans on Tuesday, October 19, and donating dozens and dozens and dozens of jars of peanut butter & jelly.

That's when the second CALL to Action was sent out for everyone to join the Peace and Justice Club (PBJ) in decorating lunch bags and making peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. IT WAS PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY TIME on Friday. Over 80 students responded and had an amazing time. Laughing and singing, they made 192 sandwiches! As we delivered the sandwiches to the Coalition, a gentlemen waited patiently for the car to be unloaded so that he could take home dinner that evening for his family.

At Benedictine Academy, we believe we have a shared responsibility in caring for the needs of the local community. Together we can and are making our world a better place!

SAVE OUR RIVERS & EARTH

Our Ecology Club answered their CALL TO ACTION when they headed down to the nearby river system to clean up Mother Earth. Approximately 28 sophomores put on knee high wading boots and gloves picking up the debris from the water system in order to protect the local inhabitants. Whether we agree or not, the Truth is that we are responsible for the earth. As caretakers of creation, we must preserve our ecological system for our generation and the generations to follow.

BA Students Walk for Breast Cancer

Our first CALL TO ACTION was to raise awareness and funds

for finding a cure for Breast Cancer.

All BA students in grades 9-12, along with faculty and staff members, participated in the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk-a-thon on October 6. Our President, Sr. Germaine Fritz,OSB, Principal, Mr. Ken Jennings, and Luisa Rodrigues, Business Manager and Portuguese Club Moderator, led the way in giving witness to stand up for a cure for Breast Cancer.

A sea of walkers dressed in sneakers, jeans and BA shirts, complimented by pink accessories symbolic of breast cancer awareness, easily made the three-mile trek through the Westminster section of Elizabeth and Hillside. $3000 was raised and will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for research purposes. Additional monies are still coming in and will be counted. event was sponsored by the Academy's Portuguese Club.

Why did the entire school walk? There is not one family in our school, in our community, in the entire United States, who has not been affected directly or indirectly by this disease. Mother, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother, Friend, or Neighbor. At Benedictine Academy, we believe that religion and science together can produce a cure for cancer. More prayer, more power.... little prayer, little power.... no prayer, no power. In addition to walking for our brothers and sisters, we have been praying the rosary every day for the healing of all those affected by cancer. Together we can and will make a difference.