Good deeds at Loyola High in Los Angeles. Woulda been nice if they mentioned the motivation for all those good deeds--gee, let's see, maybe it has something to do with the fact that the school has a beautiful chapel; that the students seem to be, gee, praying; that one guy has a photo of St. Therese of Lisieux in his office; that outside the school is a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes; and that the school is called "Loyola." Gee, wherever does the impetus for those good deeds come from? Anyway, a nice piece.
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James Martin, SJ
I think this sheds light on a very important concept in evangelizing our teens and young adults. I taught religion for a little while at a high school where there was a service course incorporated into the curriculum. I had more students have moments of authentic conversion when they were practicing service than at any other time. Service provides opportunities for the kids to see faith in action and to make it real for them. They can see concepts they learned about in the religion classroom out in the real world and experience some feedback. I hope more Catholic high schools and youth ministry programs catch on to this notion. Christ is present in all areas of society, not just in the text books and church pews. We just have to help each other find Him in those unexpected places.
Thanks for posting this, Fr. Martin!
One senses this omission isn't oversight, inattention, or accidental. Like all secular news organizations (print, video, audio, cyber, or other media) in North America & Western Europe, they go to great lengths to rid their news reports, articles, & opinions of any confusion with spirituality, religiosity, or - heaven help us all - Catholicsm.
The emphasis at Company schools over the last quarter of a century certainly has been on developing ''men & women for others.'' Brought to mind is Sophomore Service at Saint Ignatius High in Cleveland. What was given those young men in their formative teens in the '80s has been returned multi-fold over the last two decades by these now close to forty-something Company Members. We've watched as sons, daughters, and classmates take the initiative in love and service for others! AMDG