What can we do, worlds and an ocean away?

On Thursday morning, March 28, the Conlin Gymnasium filled with students, faculty, staff, and fellow Brothers of the Sacred Heart guests from Catholic High School for our annual Lenten Liturgy with Celebrant Father Paul Hart ‘70, Brother Martin Chaplain. Our school community stood together in solidarity with our Brothers at Mission Amatongas in Mozambique, Africa, and learned about the destruction and despair that they faced after Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall in their town.

What can we do, worlds and an ocean away?

“Mission Amatongas, run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Mozambique, is such a place. Brother Chris Sweeney and the Brothers who have joined him in opening, maintaining, and growing this sanctuary for young boys and girls in an impoverished part of the world have brought their “fire” to their work. Now, more than ever, because of the effects of the cyclone, Amatongas needs disciples, people with “fire” to help restore the school to a place of functionality, education, and formation, and sanctuary,” reflected Principal Ryan Gallagher ‘00.

What can we do, worlds and an ocean away?

During the offertory, our student ministers passed around baskets, for a collection, to raise money for Mission Amatongas. The collection was placed in the hand-woven baskets, located under the Mission Cross in the center of our Liturgy. The baskets were made by locals from the village located outside the Mission. Thank you to all of our students, faculty, staff, and guests for your generosity during today’s collection.

As we continued our solidarity day with Mission Amatongas, we began each period over the PA system with reflections and prayers composed by faculty members who have traveled to Amatongas. Special thanks to Campus Ministry, Fr. Paul Hart ‘70, Chorus, Band, and our guests from Catholic High for a powerful Liturgy living out the Mission of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.