As we enter these 40 days of praying, fasting and giving it is a time of being nourished spiritually as we grow stronger in our faith, but it can also be a time of loneliness. As we intensify what we do we know God is with us but his voice can be so quiet at times as to be almost inaudible that we can experience this as loneliness. Our 7th grader’s essay addresses that and she has a good way of helping us to alleviate it—doing something for others. She focuses especially on those who are not able to get out, such as those in nursing homes, but her community minded idea is spot on as it keeps us connected to others, enriching our lives with the intimacy of friendships.
Radical Community Care
by Audrey
There are many radical ways that we could help the community, but there is one that I thought of that would be a great help. The students of Sacred Heart Academy have been doing a monthly trip to Asistencia here in Redlands. We usually sing songs, do skits, and make cards for the people there, but I have an idea to make them more happy.
What we could do is be assigned with certain people there. Once we are assigned with the person, we could have conversations with them. For example, we could ask them about their day and how they have been. Sure, we could still sing for them and give them cards, but I think this is a good way to make them feel less lonely and very proud!
In preparation for Lent, last week I showed the 7th graders the video of a mother bear and her cub climbing up a snow packed mountain. As mama bear makes it fairly quickly to the top she waits as her cub struggles, and at times, slides further away from her. Lent can be like that, it can seem like we are slipping backwards instead of making the progress we hoped for. However, if we keep persevering, like the bear cub, we too will make it to the mountain top. Here’s what the 7th graders saw: “The baby bear is like us trying to get to heaven. The mama bear is like Jesus. We keep trying to get to Jesus but we keep sinning and becoming farther from Jesus. But we keep trying and trying and we will finally get to heaven.”; “God put faith into the little bear and the bear didn’t give up. At the end the little bear made it up the mountain.”; “I saw faith in this video because God gives us struggles in life that we think are terrible, but God knows that it will make us stronger.”; “The mama bear represented Easter, and the baby bear represented Lent.”; “We all struggle, but struggle helps us.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJIm86WFfkE
Can Miracles still happen if you don’t believe? Come to Cinema for the Soul next Thursday, 14 March, 7pm downstairs in the Pastoral Hall at our Olive St. location, for a showing of Henry Poole is Here to find out.
God Bless,
Mrs. Alhadef
Campus Minister
5th Grade / Jr. High Teacher’s Aide