8th Graders Serve at the Cathedral Soup Kitchen

Last Friday, I went to the Soup Kitchen in Downtown Indianapolis. To me, it was a kind of a time of reflection. When I was there, seeing all those people in need, I reminded myself of all the wonderful things and blessings I have and receive. I actually have done service hours at The Lord's Pantry before, too. I really enjoyed the chance to serve God and His people! I can't wait to go again!

Kristen N.

My experience of serving at the soup kitchen was life changing. I served at a similar place before...however, the memory is foggy. When I arrived at the soup kitchen I was surprised. It was so small. When I saw the people I had tears in my eyes. I wondered what these people's life stories were. They were loving, caring and kind people. Everything went well, except for a little incident with some people. It was a wonderful experience and I hope to go again soon.

(Sofia O.)

Vocation Essay, Lauren H.

Priests, deacons, and religious brothers and sisters play a very important role in all of our everyday lives. For example priests, day after day, speak about the good news of how the Lord loves us unconditionally no matter how big our sins may be. They teach us that God wants us to treat his people with the respect they deserve. God sends these religious people to us so that his life and memories never die within our hearts. These people are like a phone that God calls us on, but we must choose if we want to answer it and talk to him.

Priests are the second people after God who welcomes us to life as his followers. Priests baptize us allowing us to begin our life as a messenger of God. Priests welcome us to God and say good bye to us when we die, while God is saying hello to us in heaven. Priest help people feel right with God during reconciliation. They allow us to have the body of Christ when we know we are not worthy enough for it. Priests sometimes talk to young men about becoming a priest. They also us influence to take a bigger perspective of why God put us on this earth.

Deacons and religious brothers are almost the same things. Deacons are men who are married but wanted to have a bigger part preaching about our Lord Jesus Christ. Brothers do teach and are faithful to God with the love a priest would have towards God. They both want to broaden people’s minds about how they can help God. Their goals are to help people understand why God put us on this earth.

Religious sisters follow Jesus in many ways. Some teach religion classes to inform today’s youth about the good news of the Lord. They inspire people to follow Jesus so that in everything we do He may be glorified. Like priest, deacons, and religious brothers they want to serve God and his people.

We all have a chance to serve God. How we serve him is our choice. God calls each of us to know, love and serve him. They all ask themselves what would Jesus do. They try to inspire others to love and cherish the Lord Jesus Christ every single day of our life.

Lauren H.
7th Grade

Vocation Essay, Annie W.

“Come and See”

A few years ago, I transferred from a Catholic school to another private school that serves students with Dyslexia. When I first went to the new school, I remember missing the extra time I got with God at my former school. I missed going to mass, having religion class and having daily prayer with my teacher and classmates. At the same time, this new experience was exposing me to people I might not have ever met. Some of my new classmates had very diverse religious backgrounds and lifestyles. Sometimes, we would talk about our beliefs and as we did this, it helped me realize how important my own were to me. For example, we had heated discussions about abortion. I realized how much I missed the daily guidance I had received in my former Catholic school. I wished that my peers could also be given the gift of faith in their lives, too.

After five years of intensive, specialized curriculum at the school for Dyslexic students, I felt academically ready to move back to a more traditional style of school. My parents and I visited Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School, and immediately it felt like the right fit with compassionate, caring teachers. One of the teachers I met, was Sister Nicolette. She is not what most people think of when they think of a nun. I know she has opened my eyes as well. Sister Nicolette shows her students her love by the way she teaches and the way she embraces her calling to know, love and serve God. She shows us that her obedience to God is not a burden or punishment, but a calling that she has joyfully responded to. She has shown us all that a life of service to God can also be a life of fun and fulfillment. Honestly, before I met Sister Nicolette, if someone had ever asked me if I would consider being a nun, my immediate response would have been absolutely NOT! Now, that I have seen someone with such a love for God and a joy for life, I am open to see how God calls me to His service in my own life. I would still, of course, have to think about all the options life has to offer, but I would be much more willing to consider a call to the religious life after meeting Sister Nicolette.

I think all of the experiences so far in my life have molded me to become what God has in store for me. I think it is no coincidence that I had to meet people different from myself to appreciate and embrace my own faith more fully. It is also no coincidence that Sister Nicolette is teaching me about loving, joyful service to God.

(Annie W. 7th Grade)

8th Graders Serve at the Cathedral Soup Kitchen

My trip to the soup kitchen was a really good experience. It was just like St. Vincent de Paul. The same people that were at the soup kitchen were also at St. Vincent de Paul. It was fun serving the homeless and the needy. If I had an opportunity to do it again, I would, because that was a life fulfilling experience. I would recommend it to people, because it's a good way to teach you how to put others' needs before your wants. They need the necessities that most of us are blessed to have. What I'm trying to relay is that if you think your "needs" come before the unfortunate who don't have the materialistic items you have, then you're mistaken. The next time you decide to do something special for yourself think about the others who have very little. I loved the soup kitchen a lot and I hope I can do it again. I even have the desire to serve in my spare time. I love to serve God's people and to make them very happy. I enjoy seeing that people have what they need to eat and what they need to clothe themselves. At St. Vincent de Paul they were happy that they got a lot of free stuff and clothes that kept them warm at night. I never thought that I would do something to change some one's life. I hope you will feel the same way when you serve someone that is in need. You will really enjoy the look of gratitude on their face. Sometimes that is all you need to make your day.
(Nikki D.)

When I went to the soup kitchen it smelled really bad. But the people were really nice. It was worth volunteering my time. The food didn't look very appetizing but the people ate it anyway.
(Brianna S.)

A Commentary for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time by Sr. Kathleen Yeadon, OSB

There is no more wine---
there is always something running short in our lives---
so put in a request to God whose love is so much greater than ours.

Dare to ask God for an abundance –
an overflowing abundance of what you need.

For at the wedding feast
filling six water jugs of 20-30 gallons
is an incredible abundance.


The wedding feast tells us God is not stingy—
measuring out meager amounts of joy, faith, healing, courage--
just enough to keep us begging for more.

No, the wedding Feast of Cana says—
God is waiting for your need
to become a moment of intimacy between you and God---
where your heart finally has the courage to recklessly believe
in a God who recklessly loves.

Abandon the fear and ask ----

ask for your heart’s desire.

8th Graders Serve at the Cathedral Soup Kitchen

Wow! After hearing all my friends tell me about the soup kitchen, I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. I met so many kind people at the soup kitchen. We said a prayer thanking God for us. We sang a song of praise and thanking God for the day. We should thank God for the opportunity to serve. What an awesome experience. (Jamaica H.)

Going to the soup kitchen is something I won't forget. It was a good thing to experience because if we get even one person to decide to go to the soup kitchen even once a month it is one more than they did have! The people who came for food were really nice. They were grateful and respectful. They seemed to have more faith than most people with everything. (Ashley K.)

The soup kitchen was a very good experience. I saw what the economy was doing to the people. It was sad to see but I felt like I needed to see how bad this is hitting everyone. I'm glad I went to help. It made me see good by helping those people. They were all nice and respectful. I know that I want to go back and help. (Kristen S.)

We Pray the Rosary

My 8th graders were inspired by a short video on You Tube that promotes praying the Rosary. We designed our own shirts in Religion class yesterday and wore them to school today. Mary Ann Wyand, a senior reporter for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis' Catholic Newspaper, the Criterion, interviewed my class today on their experience of praying the Rosary. The article was printed in the Catholic School's Week edition of the Criterion. Please enjoy a few pictures of my students proudly wearing their shirts!