Lourdes High School and Refugee Resettlement team up for "A Call for Change"   For I was a stranger and you welcomed me.                                –Matthew 25:35

Lourdes students are collaborating with Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program this Lenten season to change the lives of those who arrive as refugees for the better. The season of Lent is marked with answering a call to deepen one’s baptismal commitment to Christ. Today in most Catholic parishes you will visibly see those making ready to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Even if one is already baptized, they are still on a journey to answer “the call”, to renew their faith and commitment of love and service.

Fall of 2008 kicked off a one year campaign for Refugee Resettlement entitled, “A Call for Change.”  As the resettlement program has been approved to receive “free cases”  this campaign’s intent is to not only raise the financial change needed to replace despair with hope, but most importantly to raise community awareness in regards to the program, and it’s need commitment of love and service.  Currently, Catholic Charities is assisting families who have been forced to leave their country of Iraq due to war and destruction.  These families have left their home, jobs, and all their material possessions because they fear for their lives.  Unlike, reunification refugee cases, one of new challenges of these free case Iraqi families is that they have no other family or relatives to help them transition into their new lives.

Lourdes student body will take part in a Lenten workshop to learn about those who arrive in this community as refugees. During the forty days of Lent, students will reflect on different questions and give their insight in regards to the plight of the refugee and Christ’s reply, “For I was hungry and you gave me to eat, thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” when asked, “When Lord?” Together we will have an opportunity to read and ponder the thoughts of our students at Lourdes who are dedicated to answering a call to make a positive difference in the lives of others; to make the world a better place. By doing so, together we will all have an opportunity to answer the call to renew our faith and commitment of love and service.

Narratives

Week of 3/9

1. Alex Shepherd - Sophmore
2. Beth Sherman - Freshman

Week of 3/16

1. Carolyn Lynch - Sophmore
2. Rachael Brandt - Freshman

Week of 3/23

1. Annie Went - Sophmore
2. Katie Norris - Senior

Cien Fuegos Magazine (A Fine Arts and Dining Publication for Southeast Minnesota) has graciously printed the story of Batoul.  The article will be printed in the permier edition of the magaizine on March 1st.  Please read here for Batoul's story.

For more information regarding the Lenten workshop or about the Refugee Resettlement program, please contact Mary Alessio, Director at (507) 287-2047. 

Students of Lourdes High School

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