by: Jhoanna Co
The Santa Barbara Catholic School community gathered in the school’s Petrie Gym Friday morning, Sept. 20 for a special Mercy Day Mass presided by Father Dan Bien and concelebrated by Father Fran Hezel, SJ and Father Mike Jucutan.
Members of the Sisters of Mercy congregation as well as SBCS families, benefactors and friends attended the Mass. For their offering, students brought fresh fruits and vegetables which were then donated to Alee Shelter and Gu
ma San Jose.
After Mass, members of the National Junior Honor Society, SBCS Chapter presented a $500 donation to Mercy Focus in Haiti, an initiative of the Sisters of Mercy which address humanitarian needs in Haiti.
By mid-morning, middle school classes were audience to local social entrepreneur Aguarin Iriarte of a group called Maisa who shared how his love for the island and the environment has stirred in him a passion to promote waste consciousness and mindful consumption. Together with his cousin, Te’i Sgambelluri, Iriarte also showed students Maisa’s different products and how each purchase actually helps the artisans who created the products.
In the afternoon, students from grades 3-5 participated in a presentation by environmentalist Clara Badong of Inarihan Farm and Resort in the Philippines. Ms. Badong spoke of how to be mindful in building around natural landscapes, and how teamwork, proper planning and patience, as things take time to grow, are all important. She also shared her experiences with coastal clean ups and dives on Guam.
Meanwhile, students from K4 and Kindergarten spent quality time with “big brothers” and “big sisters” from the 7th and 8th grade as they learned about proper recycling and how to be heroes for the environment.
On Sept. 24, lead ranger Artak Davtian from the War in the Pacific National Historical Park treated students from 1st and 2nd grade to a presentation. Ranger Art talked about different types of species on Guam and how the students can help take care of the island’s ecosystems.
This year’s Mercy Day and Season of Creation celebration at Santa Barbara was truly filled with fun, learning activities that highlighted the school’s commitment to one of the core values of the Sisters of Mercy: stewardship of the earth.
