CCHS students and feeding the hungry

By SISTER MONICA MURPHY, CSJ- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

We hunger for so much more than just food! I had the awesome privilege of accompanying a group of students from Catholic Central High School in Troy on a service venture to St. John's/St. Ann's Outreach Center in Albany recently. We went to set up, clean up and serve delicious food that was prepared by parishioners of St. Edward's Church in Clifton Park.

My only regret in returning from the day was that the parents and teachers of these students did not have the same experience I did. They would have been so proud of these young men. They went right to work following orders as soon as they arrived. They set tables, made drinks, created very colorful salads (and didn't even cry when they peeled the onions) and did whatever else was asked of them.

The best part of the day was watching what happened when the boys interacted with the center's guests. The boys made a very special effort not to just serve food, but to remember they were serving people. They engaged in very meaningful conversations with the people at their tables, and it was so much fun to hear all the life stories they learned from the guests.

I was so glad that the first comment one of the boys made when we got on the bus was, "When can we go back?" As our bus drove away, there was a lineup of little kids smiling and waving to the boys.

The greatest hunger that I saw that day was a hunger to be noticed, to be heard, to be respected, to matter and to share our stories. It doesn't take great wealth to meet that hunger - just a little heart.

(Sister Monica is director of guidance at Catholic Central High School, Troy, and director of Pyramid Life Center in Paradox.) [[In-content Ad]]