TRINITY MAGAZINE (Continued from page 23, Christian Service)
“HOPE SAVES LIVES”
–Jennielynn Holmes, CPO, Catholic Charities
• Advocating for the homeless with Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul Society • Laboring to provide food for the hungry • Advocating against human trafficking • Striving to provide clean drinking water to schools abroad • Reversing the stigma of mental health, especially among teens • Cleaning up beaches, rivers, and forests • Fostering positive environmental stewardship skills in youth • Mentoring with Special Olympics • Preparing nutritious meals with the Ceres Community Project • Building athletic skills and confidence in youth • Collecting food for area Food Banks • Raising funds to support Ukraine Relief • Working in animal therapy settings Cardinal Newman students are tackling issues in the news and in our community. While doing so, they reflect on the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching and on following the example of Christ in their work of selflessness and kindness. St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) The Cardinal Newman SVdP club hosted the Regional
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SVdP Council’s President, Ron Plasse, and Vice President, James Nantell, for a constructive and informative discussion about the spirit and character of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Our club is an official member of the Society and learned of the roughly 200-year Vincentian tradition of compassionate service in the footsteps of Christ. Press Democrat Youth Service Awards In the 2021-22 School Year, the Press Democrat’s Youth Service Awards nominated 125 students in the greater Santa Rosa area, including ten Cardinal Newman seniors, for outstanding community service. • Jenna Bertoli • Vincenzo Bigattini • Kenneth (KJ) Born • Liya Golden • Maguire Hansel • Avery Jacobs • Aiden Johnson • Eternity McDonell • Julietta Solano • Ricky Waite In an article covering the Awards, Press Democrat reporter Kerry Benefield said, “Instead of turning away, they dug in. Instead of looking out for number one, they looked out for others. Instead of getting theirs, they gave theirs. To hear what these students have accomplished in their unprecedented high school careers is to see fortitude and hope in action.”
In the same article, Jennielynn Holmes, chief programs officer with Catholic Charities and keynote speaker for the event, told the students that to be one of the 125 nominees is to have done something, or some things, incredible. “I feel so hopeful for the future of our world because of each and every one of you,” she said. “You are all sitting here because you have gone above and beyond.” Benefield’s and Holmes’ sentiments illustrate the positive ripple effect that happens when acting out of compassion for others – it spreads hope, inspires, and has a chance to expand. The Cardinal Newman Christian Service Program Guided by Perrin Cheney, the Cardinal Newman Christian Service Program supports students with education, guidance, and schoolsponsored service events. In addition, Mr. Cheney helps students find opportunities for earning service hours together with their peers. Examples include: • Restoring the grounds of the Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa’s Convent damaged in the Tubbs Fire • Working with Homes 4 The Homeless, who make modular homeless shelters deployed wherever there is a need • Praying for the incarcerated
in collaboration with the Diocese of Santa Rosa’s Restorative Justice Ministry • Collaborating with Catholic Charities in preparing home-cooked meals for their homeless shelter • Preparing and delivering emergency go-bags directly to our region’s shut-ins and elderly Cardinal Newman students have risen to the occasion in meeting the needs of others. They reach out in compassion, reflecting Christ and his teachings. Compassion is not something you can teach to someone from a textbook or a set of theories. Instead, compassion comes from direct, hands-on, minds-on personal experience serving others. It’s a hallmark of our faith and at the heart of the Catholic Identity shared at Cardinal Newman.
