Joy

This past Sunday was Gaudete Sunday, which is a celebration of the Joy that is approaching with the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Our CKS students have had many opportunities to spread joy this holiday season—bringing in canned food for St. Vincent DePaul, purchasing toys for our toy drive, and adopting a Christmas “Angel” in our Parish.

Recently, Grace Casper, a CKS alumnus, and Sam Awad were recognized for the joy they have helped spread as Co-Presidents of the teen organization Teens for Haiti. This organization, completely run by teenagers has raised tens of thousands of dollars to give the people of Haiti a “hand up rather than a hand out.” To date the organization has raised money for a generator to power a clinic, a chicken farm project, and the expansion of vegetable farming program. More details can be viewed at their website http://www.teensforhaiti.com/.

The Tampa Bay/Hillsborough Human Rights Council honored Teens for Haiti with the Youth Leadership award at a ceremony Friday, December 12, 2014. There, alongside religious sisters, judges, and retired colonels, who were also honored for their contributions to the community, were two teenagers. This is an important reminder during this season of Advent that we are all called to spread Joy to others. I challenged our students this week to conclude this semester’s peace mission the same way we started it, with a smile. Each day, I asked them to find three people, smile at them, and wish them a “Merry Christmas.” Joy is contagious, and I hope our student do their best to spread it. 

Merry Christmas!