Spring 2011 - Ursuline Academy

A Mission Tradition
With candy apples in their hands, tiny umbrellas in their smoothies and treats in their
pockets, the students of Ursuline Academy had the spirit of Serviam in their hearts at
the school’s annual Mission Day on October 5. Typical classrooms transformed into
colorful and thematic booths, each featuring donated items which were purchased by
students, parents and friends of the school.
“While we raised money for a good cause, we had a lot of fun,” said seventh grader
Ashley Haughton. Popular rooms this year were The Beary Best Bakery, Fenway Park
(featuring 2 Red Sox Championship rings, and franks of course), the Top Hat Raffle and
the tropical Smoothie Room. While students enjoyed spending their allowance on
Mission Day treats, they did so knowing that their contributions were ultimately going
to a worthy cause.
My Brother’s Keeper, a local Christian charity that provides food and furniture to needy
families throughout the year, was the grateful recipient of this year’s collection. At a
beautiful opening Mass celebration, the community received a heartfelt “thank you”
from Mr. Erich Miller, Executive Director of My Brother’s Keeper. “We believe service
is a privilege, not a duty or an obligation so we work hard to share that privilege with
as many people as possible…please know how grateful and humbled we are that
you’ve chosen to support My Brother’s Keeper today,” he said.
“There was a wonderful spirit this year,
and the kids had a great time.”
-Mrs. Tomase
Mission Day has been a cherished Ursuline tradition for over thirty years. Many
alumnae who return to visit mention their fond memories of that one day each
year when the school would come alive with activity and joy. What was once the
senior balloon send-off is now the senior balloon pop-off, for obvious
environmental reasons; however, that is the only major change to the program.
The oversized pickles are plentiful, the S.O.S. prizes are wrapped in newspaper
and the raffle tickets are still pulled from top hats. “I brought my boys a couple
years ago,” wrote graduate Katie Tower Verrette ’94 on Ursuline’s Facebook page.
“They had a blast and it was nice to see staff and all the changes to UA.”
“The generosity of parents, the generosity of time, and the will of the students is
what make this event possible each year,” said UA Campus Minister Marge Costa,
who has overseen the charitable fair for the past thirty years. According to Sister
Nesta, who worked feverishly in the cash room, Ursuline raised approximately
$14,800 for charity at this year’s event, which Mrs. Costa said was the most
money raised in the history of the event.
“The day was super-fantastic,” said Mrs. Tomase, who runs the Beary Best
Bakery. “There was a wonderful spirit this year, and the kids had a great time.”
Students Respond to Hard Times in ‘Big Easy’
Over the winter break, Ursuline sophomores Caroline Gailius and
Saidhbhe Berry and freshman Maggie Wolfe spent six days in New
Orleans with their church youth group out of Milton, MA. The
service trip was inspired by the devastation caused by Hurricane
Katrina, which left many areas of the city destroyed and many
people destitute.
The students spent time painting a work house, demolishing a rusty shed,
caring for the elderly and cleaning up the grounds of an old cemetery.
They were very excited to visit the Ursuline Academy of New Orleans convent,
which was the only original building still standing in the city after two
devastating fires. The students said they were happy to put their time off to
good use, helping those in need.
Hodges: A Mission of Faith
continued from page 9
our hands or play with our hair or give us a hug. They were so warm and so embracing.
They didn’t know us, or even where we came from. They just knew that we were there
to play with them and that was enough. They took us by the hand and showed us
around, pointing out favorite spots in the orphanage. One girl led my friend Anna to a
statue of the Virgin Mary. The children’s attitude towards complete strangers reminded
me of how God acts.
Lastly, I saw God in the village of El Mezote. When we visited the town, it was a sobering
experience. In 1981, only 30 years ago, the government went in to interrogate the village
about the whereabouts of a rebel army. By all accounts, they were supposed to go in to interrogate the people and leave. But that’s not
what happened. The government separated and killed the men, the women and children. At the end of the day, out of the 5,000 people
in the village, just one woman named Rufina Amaya was left alive. When we heard the story, we all struggled to understand, but I don’t
think any of us ever will. What really made me think of God that day was visiting the village and seeing people, houses and stores. When
the government went in initially, they decimated the area. Things were burned, destroyed. But the people came back. They rebuilt their
village and continued to live their lives. There was a memorial that listed the names of every man, woman and child who had died in the
massacre. A plaque said something along the lines of, “They are not dead. They are with us.” It really touched me. That evening, we talked
about how much strength it must have taken to come back to a place where something so awful had transpired.
When I came home, I asked myself that same question: Where did I see God today? Some days I had the same answers. I saw God in the
beautiful scenery around me; I saw God in the children. I saw God in the third world country I travelled to. But, He’s not just in desolate
places such as El Salvador. He’s all around us, but the question is… are you looking?
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