St. Francis Xavier students serve the community

KEARNS — "What so ever you do to the least of my people, you do for me," (Mt 25:40) was the theme of the St. Francis Xavier Regional School monthly family activities.

"Our school is grouped into families made up of a student from each grade beginning in kindergarten," said Carolyn Wilde, St. Francis Xavier fourth grade teacher. "Every year the faculty chooses a theme and we plan activities based on the theme, including guest speakers. This year we focused on people we felt could use our prayers, and our help."

Wilde said the groups they helped included the homeless, abused, hungry, elderly, lonely, veterans, terminally ill, babies and small children, and migrant workers.

For the homeless, St. Francis students made three-dimensional table decorations for the lunchroom at St. Vincent de Paul Center. The students collected toiletries for families involved in domestic violence who flee without anything to the YWCA. They also collected gently used toys and clothing for the children at the Christmas Box House.

In November, the students made place mats for the Thanksgiving dinner served to the homeless and the working poor at the Greek Orthodox Church. At Christmas, the children beaded ornaments for residents at a local care center. Each bead represented a prayer said for the intention of the residents. The students also made cards and prayer cards for the elderly who are alone at Christus St. Joseph Villa.

"Our 300 Valentine’s Day cards brightened the day at the Veteran’s Medical Center," said Wilde. "We also made mobiles to hang on childrens’ hospital beds at Primary Childrens’ Hospital. We collected baby food, formula, diapers, and other supplies to give to the Utah Food Bank. Each family also decorated a canvas bag and filled the bag with school supplies to be sent to a Peace Corps school in Africa."

The students collected fruits and vegetables and wrote a prayer for the migrant worker who may have picked the produce items. They also heard stories about migrant workers and discussed how hard it would be to live as they do as well as the nice aspects of being a migrant. The children made a small origami suitcase for themselves, and were allowed to chose three or four of their most precious possessions to put in their suitcase as if they were moving to their next home. The students realized how hard this would be. Guest speaker Chief Magistrate Judge Samuel Alba, a Salt Lake City Federal Court Judge, grew up as a migrant. It was good for the students to see Judge Alba become successful through hard work and determination.

"The students brought in blankets for families at The Road Home, and listened to Matt Minkovich, director, talk about homeless families who stay there," said Veronica Brand, St. Francis middle school teacher. "We talked about each group we served, and what circumstances may have brought these people to their situations, and how we as Catholics are called to reach out to these people."

"Many of our students come from families who do not have a lot," said Nancy Essary, St. Francis Xavier principal. "But it is like the widow’s mite, you teach them to give a small contribution from someone who has little. We want them to understand even if they are not in the best situation, there are always those who are worse off and need our help."