To Teach as Jesus Did:

Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee

February 9, 2016

“Catholic Schools in the Year of Mercy:  Feeding the Hungry”

This month the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s focus for the Jubilee Year of Mercy is the Corporal Work of Mercy, “Feeding the Hungry.” As the devastating struggle with hunger and thirst continues on a worldwide and local basis, we look for ways this month, as Catholic school educators, to alleviate this problem in spiritual, academic, and physical ways. 

Please view the message on “Feeding the Hungry,” delivered by Father Ken Omernick, Pastor at St. Charles Parish, Hartland, and Archdiocesan “Missionary of Mercy.” 

Year of Mercy: Feed the Hungry

A number of schools have shared their “Jubilee Year of Mercy” practices and themes.  Holy Angels School in West Bend, for example, is reflecting on the Works of Mercy throughout the year and creating opportunities to demonstrate their faith through their actions.  The first quarter focus was “feeding the hungry."  During the second quarter there were efforts to “clothe the naked.”  Students will seek ways to “shelter the homeless" during the third quarter, and during the fourth quarter they will “visit the sick” in their community.

The community at St. Rita’s School in Racine focused on “Feeding the Hungry” with its “Stuff the Bus" St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry campaign leading up to Catholic Schools Week.  In addition, eighth graders at St. Rita’s worked all day at HALO, Racine’s homeless shelter, on January 20.

At the lower campus of St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Kenosha, students created a mitten tree, conducted a food drive, walked to a nearby nursing home to spread Christmas cheer, and made blankets to donate to shut-ins.  The Theology Department at the upper campus held an Advent Festival of Mercy: 

Festival of Mercy

The faith club at St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Geneva, FIAT (Faith in Action Team), organized activities for each of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.  The group began with a prayer service about the Year of Mercy and the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Each week, students highlight a different work by describing it during announcements,  sharing a Google doc about a saint who practiced that work of mercy, and by conducting an activity related to the work.


In all our Catholic schools, during this month of February, let us join with our brothers and sisters throughout the archdiocese in living out the Corporal Work of Mercy, “Feeding the Hungry,” by:
 

• contributing food from our own homes to assist those in need; e.g., pick unopened, unperishable items out of our kitchens and finding people or places where they can be used. #mymercymke
   
• volunteering to serve food at local meal programs and learning from the poor what it means to be loving and thankful.
   
• being attentive to the basic needs of the children and families in our own school and parish communities and find ways to address those needs with dignity.
   
• eating more simply, consciously, and gratefully.
   

A blessed Lenten season and Jubilee Year of Mercy to all!
 

Kathleen A. Cepelka, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Catholic Schools