CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Catholic High School community has a reputation for helping others, especially during times of hardship. Now, the high school is responding to the local need to equip health care workers who are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic with personal protection equipment (PPE).
In late March, a student informed school staff that parents in the school community who are health care workers were in need of PPE to do their jobs safely. The student suggested CCHS join the fight against COVID-19 by printing 3D masks at the school.
Staff immediately responded to Principal Kurt Telford’s call for action.
Dr. Leo Maganares, CCHS engineering professor, and Joann Keane, photography and digital media instructor, have teamed up on the 3D printing project.
“Joann and I made different designs using AutoCAD and on March 25 we tested the first 3D printed models,” Maganares said.
“It takes approximately four hours to create one full set of face shield and facemask. We use two 3D printers for each set. It takes approximately three and a half hours to print a face shield and four hours to print a facemask,” he explained.
Several other faculty, staff and parents are helping them with the project. Health care workers who are members of the CCHS community will receive the PPE at the high school at a designated time.
“The production will be an ongoing process and the sets will be delivered in increments to meet the urgent needs of our community. We anticipate to reach 1,000 sets by the end of April,” Maganares said.
Grants from the CCHS Foundation and the CCHS Alumni Association will provide essential funding for the project and enable them to buy more 3D printers to produce 2,000 sets of PPE at a cost of $11.25 per set.
Maganares noted, “The purpose of our action has many angles. First, we are a Catholic school and we stand by our brothers and sisters in need. Second, we are educators, and we have a moral responsibility to show our students that CCHS is an active family in the community, and, last and foremost, as Americans we never quit.”
Maganares believes the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for students to get involved as citizens in their community. “Challenging times bring people closer and make them more responsible and considerate,” he said.
“I am grateful to the Charlotte Catholic Foundation and the Charlotte Catholic Alumni Association for their generosity,” Telford said. “Dr. Leo has quietly and without fanfare spent many hours setting up and monitoring the production process. It is an example of what the greater Catholic community does when there is a need.”
Added Keane, “As we celebrate the Year of St. Joseph, the builder, in some small way are we continuing his mission with 21st century tools to build, create and help our community, our family in faith.”
Pictured above: Dr. Leo Maganares, professor of engineering at CCHS in Charlotte, models one of the PPE sets that CCHS is producing to protect local health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter.
Want to help?
Donate to CCHS Foundation at https://www.cchsfoundation.org/donate or CCHS Alumni Association: https://bit.ly/3eDaKQk.Specify for CCHS PPE effort.
CHARLOTTE — Keep your spirits high and remember that the Risen Lord, the Good Shepherd, is with you in these difficult times.
That was the message from Bishop Peter Jugis May 3 for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also called Good Shepherd Sunday.
In a Mass livestreamed on Facebook from St. Patrick Cathedral, offered privately due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on public gatherings, Bishop Jugis reflected on the Gospel reading from John 10:1-10 and encouraged the faithful not to lose sight of the joy of Easter.
“Jesus is risen from the dead and He is with us always,” he said. “He never abandons the sheep of His flock, but remains with His flock at all times to guide us.
“This is our Easter joy: a Savior who loves us and who cares for us.”
“At this time of the virus pandemic, it is good to reminded of this Easter message: that the Good Shepherd stays with us and that He is so intimately involved with His flock. He knows each of His sheep by name, and He cares personally for each of His sheep.”
Jesus remains with us in the Eucharist, at home in our families, in prayer, and in so many other ways, the bishop said.
“Stay close to this Good Shepherd,” he urged, especially as we are all being called to make sacrifices during the pandemic – including staying at home and avoiding physical contact, wearing face masks and following other public health precautions.
“When you are asked to make these sacrifices for the good and the well-being of the larger community, turn them into opportunities to lean on the Lord more closely, instead of dwelling on how you’re being inconvenienced,” Bishop Jugis said.
“Keep your spirits high by turning to the Good Shepherd in every situation.”
Jesus will keep His flock “safe, secure and protected,” the bishop assured people as he prayed, “May the peace of our Risen Lord, our Good Shepherd, be with you throughout this Easter season.”
— Catholic News Herald
Image at top: “Le Bon Pasteur,” by Philippe de Champaigne (1883)