tvc.dsj.org | May 21, 2019 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
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Why Archbishop Mitty Makes Time for Retreats
By Grace Wagner ’20
At Archbishop Mitty High School,
students, faculty, and staff greatly value
the community that Campus Ministry
helps to create each day. Retreats play
a large role in building the school’s
community. Each grade level has its
own particular retreat, and each retreat
focuses on a different scripture-based
theme with activities and reflections
that allow students to open up the
scripture and apply the message to
their daily lives. Senior retreat leaders
play a key role in the student experi-
ence, providing leadership and mentor-
ship throughout the retreat.
Retreats take place off campus al-
lowing everyone a chance to escape
typical everyday life and the stress that
comes with it. These days away truly do
bring together the whole Archbishop
Mitty community as students, teachers,
staff, and alumni participate on this
break from everyday life on campus.
“The retreats are always so nice be-
cause they give us all time to connect
with each other,” said junior Sophia
Kouretas. “By the end of the retreat, I
didn’t even want my phone.”
The retreats create a space for
openness and vulnerability not often
allowed in students’ everyday lives,
which leads to more authentic and close
relationships with God, themselves,
and each other. When students and
staff return to campus the following
week, they bring a new perspective
on life and new connections to their
community.
“The bonds formed and strength-
ened on retreats translate to a more pro-
found sense of community on campus
that is palpable,” said Tim Wesmiller,
the Director of Campus Ministry.
Many students admit that the re-
treats at Archbishop Mitty are truly
life changing. Often retreats provide
an experience unlike anything students
have ever experienced. Many students
find that the community established
on the retreats is characterized by
genuine love and support for one an-
other. The memories made on retreats
are unforgettable as students are able
to strengthen their relationships with
God and with the people that they
may call their friends for the rest of
their lives.
Bellarmine Spring Food Drive Yields Equivalent of 18,000 Meals
Thanks to the support of the Bel-
larmine College Preparatory com-
munity, the school acquired food and
funding on behalf of Second Harvest
Food Bank to provide 18,032 meals
for the one in four people in the area
at risk of hunger.
The success of Bellarmine’s Spring
Food Drive, held April 8 through
18, surpassed t he school’s ambi-
tious goal by more than 2,000 meals,
through the generosity of individual
students, parents, coaches, teams,
clubs, faculty and staff. More than
25 teachers, staff, campus groups,
and teams held mini-drives or par-
Saint Leo the Great Bake Sale
In March, the Saint Leo’s student
council decided to raise money for the
Parish Annual Diocesan Appeal by
hosting bake sales after school. The
initial goal was to raise $1,000 for the
parish. Each student council member
brought in baked goods and was ready
to begin the sales. The first sale was so
successful that they sold out before the
middle school dismissal. The student
council held another bake sale in hopes
of reaching their goal and prepared
adequately.
This time, in addition to baked
goods, they sold “non-uniform passes”
for a small fee. Sure enough, the student
council was bombarded with sales.
By the end of the day, student council
proudly presented a check for over
$1,000 for the Saint Leo Parish Annual
Diocesan Appeal.
According to Principal Matt Komar,
ticipated in events to help fill the
barrels.
Bellarmine’s collection efforts
resulted in 5,785 pounds of food, or
4,821 meals, filling close to 40 bar-
rels. Additionally, $6,605 in funds
were raised. Proceeds largely came
from the school’s Sanguine Humours
i mprov i sat ion a l comedy t roup e
show, online donations, student and
faculty donations of money and Safe-
way gift cards, and a Super Smash
Bros. tournament.
The annual Spring Food Drive is
an initiative of Bellarmine’s Chris-
tian Service Program.
J U N E 1 1 – J U LY 1 9
“This group of students has fully
bought into their roles as not just stu-
dent council leaders for the school, but
also as stewards to the parish. Many
of the student council members also
serve as altar servers and support
other ministries of the parish. They
continue to show rising students that
when you work together and put your
mind to a certain goal, you can accom-
plish great outcomes.”
Father Enzie Lagattuta, Pastor of
Saint Leo the Great Parish, added,
“On behalf of the entire parish com-
munity, I would like to express my
sincere gratitude to the students of
Saint Leo the Great School for this
donation toward our ADA goal. This
speaks clearly to the awareness that
our parish and school are one, united
in purpose and mission. Thank you,
Saint Leo the Great students.”
More information regarding Catholic Schools in the
Diocese of San Jose can be found at
www.dsj.org/schools.
Camps and classes for 1st –12th graders
Register now at
bcp.org/summer