Pilgrimage aids developing nations
Thousands of Catholic students take part in annual walk
It’s one of the most important dates on Niagara Catholic District School Board’s calendar — Pilgrimage Sunday, the day more than a thousand students across the region walk to help people in need in Central America and the Caribbean.
“This is my 32nd year walking in the pilgrimage with students and staff,” said education director John Crocco.
“Every step on Sunday is in solidarity with and for a sister or brother in need who is served by the organization supported by the secondary schools’ annual pilgrimage.”
The pilgrimage was started in 1975, he said, and brought to Notre Dame College School in Welland by Father Jim Mulligan.
He said it’s a very public display of the Catholic faith and is a very tangible way students and staff put that faith into action for people in need.
Notre Dame raised funds for Development and Peace, Yancana Huasy in Peru, and the Dominican Canadian Community Development Group; while Lakeshore Catholic High School in Port Colborne raised funds for a variety of programs for youth and seniors in Dominica.
Lakeshore principal Denice Robertson said it was the 23rd annual walk for his school.
“We have a couple hundred students here this morning who are putting their words into action.”
Robertson said funds raised through pledges go toward different projects, including an alternative learning program and an elementary school in Dominica. “We prefer to take the funds down to Dominica but it’s dicey at times with hurricanes and tropical storms. We sent the money down last year.”
Robertson said the number of students who took part in the 10-kilometre walk was down a bit because of the cold, damp weather, meaning funds raised would be down a bit as well.
“Every little bit helps though,” she said, adding she and school staff were proud of those students who came out.
Saint Michael and Saint Paul Catholic high schools in Niagara Falls raised funds for Hope for Rwanda Children’s Fund. Saint Paul, which hosted Sunday’s event, had about 300 students participating, while Saint Michael had 417.
Students started their 11-kilometre trek at about 10 a.m., walking along Dorchester Road, Lundy’s Lane and Montrose and Thorold Stone roads.
Fran Caruso-Leitch, chairwoman for Saint Michael’s pilgrimage, said students gladly give up their Sunday morning for the cause. The school has raised about $100,000 for the Rwanda effort over 18 years.
“I think we do a good job educating them on the differences between their life and a life of someone who lives, just by chance, in a different part of the world.”
At Saint Paul, the pilgrimage raises between $15,000 and $20,000 every year for the Haiti school.
“Though all the rain and cold temperatures, they’re willing to overlook that,” said pilgrimage chairwoman Joanne Santini. “They know their sister school, their students over there, need our help.”
Saint Michael principal Glenn Gifford said students walked to bring hope to those less fortunate.
“It is so important for students today to realize their impact on our global community. To become socially aware of those who are suffering and to become servant leaders of the future,” he said.
“The people of Haiti and Rwanda will be helped by the small sacrifice made by our students today.”
In St. Catharines, Denis Morris Catholic High School raised funds for Ecole Immaculee Conception in Pilate, Haiti, and Wells of Hope in Guatemala; Holy
Cross Catholic Secondary School raised funds for Regina Assumpta elementary and secondary schools in Cap Haitien, Haiti, Immaculate Conception School in Pilate and Holy Cross Elementary School in Thibeau, Haiti; and Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School raised funds for Marie Immaculeé School and Marie Porte-du-Ciel Orphanage, run by the Holy Cross Sisters in Haiti, Fogquest and the Centre for Hope in Guatemala, the Dominican Canadian Community Development Group and various local charities.
Grimsby’s Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School raised funds for a variety of projects in Las Pajas, Dominican Republic.
with files from John Law, The Niagara Falls Review