tvc.dsj.org | April 2, 2019 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
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Archbishop Mitty High School Finds “Mercy in the City”
By Archbishop Mitty
High School Staff
Each year, the faculty and staff of
Archbishop Mitty High School un-
pack a book, which helps us grow in
our mission as Catholic educators to
develop community, teach the Gospel
values, and promote a more just world.
This year, the book chosen was Kerry
Weber’s “Mercy in the City,” which
explores one young woman’s Lenten
journey to perform all seven of the
Corporal Works of Mercy – feed the
hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe
the naked, shelter the homeless, visit
the sick and imprisoned, and bury the
dead – all in the span of just 40 days.
It’s a tall order and Weber’s voice is
refreshingly candid as she tries to bal-
ance being a “good Catholic” with a
full-time job and busy life in bustling
New York City. Weber looks at the three
pillars of Lent – prayer, fasting, and
almsgiving – but more than that she
is on a quest to figure out how she can
meaningfully serve those around her.
Reading the story inspired a book
club that meets regularly to explore
the themes of different chapters as a
community. History teacher Brendan
Lavelle was one of the participants at
the first meeting held in March. Mr.
Lavelle and his family have been liv-
ing out the Works of Mercy in a very
real way this school year, after they
offered spare rooms in their home to a
family left homeless by the Camp Fire
last year.
“The book club is a good oppor-
tunity to discuss issues of justice and
mercy in a Lenten context with my
coworkers,” Mr. Lavelle said.
For religious studies teacher Kris-
tin Byrnes, who leads the group, the
meetings are a chance to explore not
just what mercy means, but realistic
ways to live out the call to serve others.
For many in the book club, mercy has
meant embracing situations that are
sometimes uncomfortable in order to
be present and compassionate to others.
“I am struck by Weber’s description
of mercy as ‘the willingness to enter
into the chaos of another,’ ” Mrs. By-
rnes said. “As a group, we talked about
some ‘chaotic’ service experiences we
have had at soup kitchens, homeless
shelters, and abroad in underdeveloped
Monarchs Participate in Alternative Easter Break
By Alyssa Jain
During Holy Week, several Arch-
bishop Mitty High School students
will take part in an annual immersion
trip to Dolores Mission Parish in East
Los Angeles. This 15-year-long tradi-
tion provides students with a unique
opportunity to live out the values of
Catholic Social Teaching and promote
social justice.
There is no better place to embrace a
focus on service than the Dolores Mis-
sion Parish. Despite being the poorest
parish in the diocese, Dolores Mission
is committed to responding to the spiri-
tual, educational, and physical needs
of the local community. The clergy
and parishioners follow in Christ’s
footsteps by serving the marginalized,
including the homeless and former
gang members.
This Easter Break, Archbishop Mitty
students are joining parish staff in their
efforts and will put faith into action
by working with elementary school
students at the parish school. At night,
Monarchs will embrace humble living
by sleeping in classrooms. Throughout
the week, students will take part in the
parish’s regular activities as well as
Holy Week celebrations. Staying at the
parish gives students a very different
view of the same city.
The students will also help serve the
homeless at the parish’s soup kitchen
and will visit Father Greg Boyle’s
Homeboy Industries to gain insight
into the societal issues facing East
LA and how the Church is address-
ing them. On Good Friday, students
will join the parish to commemorate
the stations of the cross by walking
to sites throughout the neighborhood
where people have been killed by gang
violence.
For high school students, this trip is
countries... Our discussion was a good
reminder to me that although chaos can
be daunting, it should not be a deterrent
to offer help when we are able. In fact,
our faith implores us to step into this
chaos and encounter Christ.”
With Lent underway, it’s a perfect
time for us to recommit ourselves to
seeing the image and likeness of God in
other people and serving those around
us in little and big ways. Sometimes
the actions we take are small, like ask-
ing someone how they are doing. And
other times they are larger, like offering
up our resources, whether that is food,
time, or a compassionate, listening ear.
The important thing is that we continue
to take these actions, reaching out to
those around us with love and recog-
nizing the sacredness in everyone.
especially valuable because it demands
that they leave their comfort zone and
put their social justice education in
action. Archbishop Mitty religious
studies teacher Betsy Portillo, who has
been a trip leader in the past, attests
that helping the parish serve the East
LA community provides students with
a different perspective on the work
that the Catholic Church is doing, par-
ticularly in marginalized communities.
Indeed, the Dolores Mission trip gives
students the opportunity to witness
firsthand the conditions of LA’s most
marginalized and to do their part to
make a difference.
Saint Leo the Great School’s Lenten Reflections
By Principal Matt Komar
Saint Leo the Great School
Lent is an opportunity for us to re-
flect on our journey to fully celebrate
the Paschal Mystery that leads us to a
new life in Christ and the joy of Easter.
This year, students in our eighth grade
class were given an opportunity to read
the Lenten message from Pope Francis
and reflect on his message. Below are
two reflections we hope will encour-
age you and support you on your own
journey this Lenten season.
Lent Letter from Pope Francis Lent Letter Interpretation
By Genesis Huerther By Abigail Michel
Every year, the lent letter from Pope
Francis provides us with practical in-
formation on how to prepare for the
Lenten season.
As stated in his letter, “(Lent) invites
Christians to embody the Paschal
Mystery more deeply and concretely
in their personal, family and social
lives, above all by fasting, prayer, and
almsgiving.” By changing our attitude
towards others and all creation, turn-
ing away from temptation, abandoning
idolatry through prayer, and escaping
from the insanity of hoarding every-
thing for ourselves we can rediscover
the joy of God’s plan for creation and
for each of us. Lent truly is a blessed
time in our lives to be “set free from
its bondage to decay and obtain the
glorious liberty of the children of God.”
(Romans 8:21) “The path to Easter demands that we
renew our faces and hearts as Chris-
tians through repentance, conversion
and forgiveness...” (from Pope Francis’
Message for Lent 2019).
In his letter to the people, Pope
Francis urges people of faith to turn
away from sin during this Lenten
season and to continue to stay away
throughout the rest of our lives. He
continues to tell us that “Sin leads
man to consider himself the god of
creation...takes the shape of greed...”
Lent is about repenting and getting
ready for Jesus to come back to save
us from our sins. Pope Francis wanted
us to know, Lent isn’t about giving
something up because you have to, it
is about reflecting on the past to make
way for a brighter future.
The Valley Catholic
Young Journalists
Group
The Valley Catholic Young Jour-
nalists Group is a team of high
school journalists who are pas-
sionate about retelling such sto-
ries through priests, ordinary
people and religious events. If
you enjoy writing, telling stories,
and are active in your parish,
come join this group! For more
information or to share a story,
please contact Justin Chung at
[email protected].