CHARLOTTE — Twenty-two Charlotte Catholic students traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, for their spring break – not to spend time on the beach or to see the sights, but to work alongside the Missionaries of the Poor, providing help and companionship to those with little or nothing.
The Missionaries of the Poor run several different centers in Kingston, tending to the needs of orphaned children, adults with AIDS, and adults with severe mental and physical disabilities. The high school sophomores, juniors and seniors clothed, diapered, fed and played with the children. The young men in the group shaved and talked with the men at the centers, assisting with many of their needs. They cleaned and helped wherever they could at the adult center, rubbing cream on the elderly, feeding those unable to feed themselves and providing companionship – all the while respecting the dignity of each person they encountered. In addition, they worked alongside the MOP sisters at the mission, helping the elderly and orphaned children in their care.
Junior MeKayla Gough was taken aback at first by the joy that exuded from the children.
“These kids at the orphanage have nothing,” Gough said. “No parents, toys or even clothing to call their own. Despite their situations and personal disabilities, those kids are the happiest children I’ve ever had the joy of meeting.”
“These kids have changed my life,” she continued. “One little boy named Bob is missing an arm and a leg, yet I have never seen a wider smile on anyone’s face. He’s my hero, because despite the hand that life dealt him, he can somehow still see the joy and hope in life.”
The students immersed themselves in the missionary life, living with the MOP brothers, praying daily with them, and partaking of the life to which the brothers have committed themselves. They attended Holy Thursday Mass with the Missionaries of the Poor and engaged in the washing of the feet with the Church community.
“It was most joyful when we offered each other the sign of peace,” said Jen Murlless, Charlotte Catholic High School counselor who accompanied the students. “The church sang out with ‘Amen’ over and over, to the beat of the drum and the clanging of the tambourine, while everyone walked around the church shaking hands and hugging the brothers, sisters and church members.”
“We were welcomed into the community with open arms,” Gough added. There were no barriers whatsoever and I think that’s what was so beautiful about the entire trip. I’ve honestly never experienced such an engaging and joyful Mass. I think I hugged every person in that church!”
On Good Friday, the students walked throughout Kingston praying the Stations of the Cross. Michael Neel, a sophomore, and Gary Hoilett, a chaperone, carried the cross while many of the students carried an image of each station.
“It was an intense experience,” Gough said. “It was sweltering hot, and we were kneeling on the burning-hot street. When we got back to the church, 
Father asked his how we felt. We all said we were exhausted. He then asked us how Jesus must have felt, because we had only walked 200 meters around a park. And that was something to really think about.”
“The week was so very meaningful,” Murlless said. “The people we served are at the mercy of those who help them, yet they are filled with great joy for what little they have or what they can do. I was so proud of our students as individuals and as a group. They were wonderful to the people and to each other.”
The high school’s Campus Ministry Team, Mary Jayne (MJ) Dawson and Theresa Hintz, provided organization and direction to the effort.
“We began these mission trips in 2007,” Dawson said. “We started with a trip to Peru that first year, and have been to many other places, including coal-mining areas of West Virginia and places hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. There is such need in Jamaica, but our students experience such love and joy, as well. We are already looking forward to next year.”
— Carolyn Kramer Tillman, Special to the Catholic News Herald
“We decided that a statue of the Blessed Mother would be a special way to honor the mothers of our class, who we recognize as strong and important forces in our lives,” explains senior and student body president Emily Mayernik.
“Two of our classmates have lost their mothers, so we wanted to remember them in this way. Mary has an extremely important role in the Church, and I think the statue is a great way to recognize this.”
Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass May 5 for the students, faculty, families and special guests.
“Today we have the great honor of dedicating and blessing the senior class gift given to the school, the statue of the Blessed Mother, which is beautifully stationed out in front of the entrance of the school,” Bishop Jugis said in his homily.
“Now, why the Blessed Mother? If you are looking for a saint who is a great saint to follow, a great model to follow, of all the saints she is the best. She is the most perfect follower of Jesus. She is sinless by the gift of God’s grace.
“At every moment, she was totally for Jesus. There was never any question, never any doubt, never any opposition – she was totally consecrated and dedicated to Jesus.”
“Which is how all of us should be as disciples of Christ,” he continued. “We’re working and striving towards that goal of being more and more dedicated to Jesus – more and more putting Him first in our lives, more and more consecrating everything we have and everything we are to Jesus.
“So who better an example or a better model do we have in our lives than the Blessed Mother?”
A statue of Mary is prominently displayed, he noted, because she leads us to Jesus. “Look at her fidelity to Jesus, faithfulness to Jesus. Even to the cross she is there to the very end.”
Mary’s prayerfulness, humility and desire to follow God’s will are all virtues we should imitate, he emphasized.
“If you can imagine the Mother of God, Mary, saying, ‘I am the servant of the Lord.’ She’s the greatest creature to ever live on the face of the earth. She brought God to birth on earth and she said of herself in all humility, ‘I am a servant.’
“That is why for all of us Christians, she is the greatest model, the greatest example of striving for holiness and striving to grow close to the Lord.”
“It is a great honor during this month of May – traditionally dedicated to honoring Mary – to be blessing the statue today, as it is a great way for the senior class of 2017 to be remembered for future generations,” he said. “It is a great gift to the Church and a great gift to the school.”
Principal Michael Smith also addressed those gathered for the statue dedication. “I want to thank all of the mothers of the Class of 2017 with us today for their devotion and dedication and all that they have done for our school and the examples they have provided for their children,” he said.
“I also want to recognize that this statue is in memory of Brenda Lee and Michelle Stanley, two mothers of the Class of 2017 who are not with us today. We would like for their families to know that our prayers are always with you.”
“Our class wanted to leave Mary to welcome everybody to Christ the King every day,” Mayernik noted.
“We pray Mary continues to intercede and watch over Christ the King students and their families as the Class of 2017 moves on to college and beyond.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
