The entire Brother Martin student body and faculty celebrated the annual Social Justice Mass. The old testament reading from the Book of Hebrew (13: 1-8) was a fitting scripture passage for a Mass centered around this year’s Great Read: Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario. Images of immigrants fleeing their central American homelands for safety and prosperity in the United States, including a dramatic depiction of railroad tracks on the floor of the Conlin Gym, highlighted the plight of over 11 million people who have left their homes to travel north to the United States. Celebrant Father Paul Hart ’70 shared a personal story strength in the face of social injustice that took place in a fast food restaurant, indicative of the injustices and demands for justice that we come across everyday.
At the conclusion of the Social Justice Mass, Campus Minister Mr. Thomas Baier and Welcoming Diversity moderator Mr. Dean Songy presented awards to two faculty members and three seniors for their dedication to service and justice. Bro. Collin Dugas was a vanguard for social justice at Brother Martin and in the local community, spending much of his ministerial life living among and working with the poor and outcast at Hope House in the St. Thomas Housing Project. Judy Stewart was an 30+ year educator in the Brothers’ charism who transformed Brother Martin’s campus ministry, student and faculty retreat, service hour, and social justice programs in her time as religion teacher and campus minister. The two faculty members who received the Bro. Collin Dugas Award are Mr. Don Guidry and Mr. Michael Cappo. The seniors who received the Judy Stewart Award are Taylor St. Pierre, Andrew Benfatti, and Travis Epps.
