FAITH FORMATION DAY: A DAY OF SERVICE

November 13, 2024 at 11:19 a.m.

NOTRE DAME-BISHOP GIBBONS SCHOOL (SCHENECTADY): Jay Mahoney, NDBG physical education teacher and athletic director, trims bushes on school grounds during a Day of Service on Nov. 5 at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

ST. PIUS X (LOUDONVILLE): The faculty and staff worked on meaningful service projects as a group on Nov. 5. They made bag lunches for the Capital City Rescue Mission, tied friendship blankets for the homeless, made snuffle mats for dogs at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, and crafted comfort crosses and created heartfelt cards for the elderly, sick, veterans and orphaned children at various nursing homes and hospitals. These projects reflect St. Pius’ commitment to serving others and embodies the spirit of compassion and generosity that the school strives to instill in its students.

HOLY SPIRIT SCHOOL (EAST GREENBUSH): Teachers prepared 100 bagged lunches for Joseph’s House in Troy. Each bag had two sandwiches and a variety of snacks and were delivered to Joseph’s House. (Photo provided)

ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE SCHOOL (SCHENECTADY): The teachers helped serve lunches at Bethesda House, which has been serving the homeless and poor in Schenectady County since 1992. (Photo provided)

NOTRE DAME-BISHOP GIBBONS SCHOOL (SCHENECTADY): Mouna Aouini, NDBG Spanish teacher, cleans and rearranges the faculty lounge during a Day of Service on Nov. 5 at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

ST. MARY’S ACADEMY (GLENS FALLS): The faculty spent the day cleaning out the greenhouse that has become a storage unit and it will now be used to grow herbs and fresh vegetables for the food pantry. The school, which will be starting a garden club, also worked on their Toys for Tots program. (Photo provided)

ST. JUDE THE APOSTLE (WYNANTSKILL): The faculty spent Nov. 5 sorting bottles and cans for the Hudson Mohawk Humane Society. The organization makes about $200,000 a year by turning in donated cans and bottles. (Photo provided)

NOTRE DAME-BISHOP GIBBONS SCHOOL (SCHENECTADY): Catholic School Office staff and NDBG teachers clean up school grounds during a Day of Service on Nov. 5 at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

On Nov. 5, Catholic school teachers and administrators gathered at Corpus Christi Church in Round Lake for their annual Faith Formation Day.
The event “has taken on many iterations over the years,” said Terri McGraw, interim Associate Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic School Office, “but the primary purpose is to catechize and provide spiritually for our teachers and administrators.”

The day kicked off with Mass in the morning, followed by three presentations on topics that teachers could be inspired by to help bring content into the classroom.

Kathy Barrans, director of communications for the Diocese of Albany, Father Sam Bellafiore, Father Stephen Yusko and Father Daniel Quinn discussed the “Power of One Hour” video series on the importance of the Mass. Brother Michael Perry, OFM, and Brother Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, from Siena College’s Center of Integral Ecology, led a talk on Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si’,” and how our schools can help lower their carbon footprint. And Michelle Thivierge, director of community partnerships for Catholic Charities, discussed how “service learning” can help students dive deeper into solving community problems.

“This year, we had one main goal with three objectives,” McGraw said. “Our goal this year was to learn how we can put our faith into action. Whether it be participating in the liturgy with greater understanding and deeper meaning through the Power of One Hour, spiritually becoming one with the earth so as to take action to protect it as Pope Francis called us to do in Laudato Si’, or understanding service learning so as to be the hands and feet of Christ in our communities and throughout the world.”

New this year was the addition of a day of service. After the presentations, teachers from each school volunteered for two hours at various sites (see photos on these two pages and page 12), including helping collect bottles and cans for the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, cleaning up their school grounds, or helping pack up delivery items for Birthright recipients.
McGraw hoped that taking the time to serve others would help schools to “integrate these concepts into every classroom and students’ lives.”
- Emily Benson, staff writer