Reflections Magazine Issue #62 - Winter 2005 | Seite 6

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Worlds
Converge

Mission to the Dominican Republic

A

n oasis in the midst of poverty - that’s
how many describe Fe y Alegría, a
school established 10 years ago by Adrian
Dominican Sisters Maurine Barzantni ’59
and Renée Richie ’60. The school is located
in the village of El Cruce de Arroyo Hondo
in the Dominican Republic. In May of this
year, a group of 15 Siena Heights students,
faculty, staff, and Adrian Dominican Sisters
traveled to the village to teach arts and
crafts to sixth and seventh graders at Fe
y Algería. The trip was a way for Siena students to share their time and talents, but in
the end the travelers received more than
they ever expected.
Ashley Incorvaia, a sophomore at SHU,
described the trip as a life-altering journey.
“Since the trip, I am mindful of all that I
have,” she says, “I try to be less wasteful in
my daily routine. The people in El Cruce live
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Reflections Winter ‘05 - Siena Heights News

a simple life that seems so pure compared to
ours.”  She went on to explain, “They have
so little, yet they are continually optimistic
and happy. The people are so in touch with
each other and the world around them.”
Ashley’s comments were echoed by others.
Doug Miller ’74, Siena Heights theater professor, felt a deep connection with the local
youth. Although Miller did not speak any
Spanish,  he connected with a number of
the school’s young men through art. Miller
brought paint supplies and, with the assistance of several budding Dominican artists,
painted an 8’x 25’ mural on one of the
school’s exterior walls.