Local students connect with children in Sagrada Familia
Recently, the students from two Port Washington schools worked together to share a very special gift with a community in our sister parish, Sagrada Familia.
Denise Murre, the DRE for Port Washington, explains:
"The 1st – 4th grade CRE children from St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s in Port Washington [pictured at above right] had an exciting Family Night in October. The children and their parents made 70 rosaries to send to the Dominican Republic to help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the twinning between the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Our Lady of Altagracia [patroness of the Dominican Republic, where Sagrada Familia is located]."
"We followed a curriculum written for primary age groups; families were invited to attend. We had a great time learning about the Dominican Republic and Our Lady of Altagracia and how the Dominicans revere her. We looked at the different faces of Mary for our countries, and compared the love both of our countries have for the Blessed Mother…"
"The catechists and parents were very busy for the last half hour of the evening assisting their children making rosaries. The children were very proud of their accomplishment and were excited to know the rosaries they made would be in the hands of children in another country."
"The entire K4 – 
6th grade were [also] involved in collecting school supplies to send to the children in the D.R. Collecting the school supplies was part of our monthly Social Mission Project. We strive to teach our children about all aspects of being Catholic, including social justice. The monthly projects include local, regional and international focus." (Click here for a larger photo of the students and note that their signs read: "Hi from St. Mary's and St. Peter's.")
Then, in October, at the start of the 25th anniversary year, a delegation from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee traveled to the DR with the rosaries and school supplies. After mass in a community chapel, the delegation gathered in the churchyard with local community members to celebrate. There, the delegation shared the rosaries with the children of the community of El Rosario (which means, appropriately enough, the Rosary). The children were delighted to receive these gifts of faith and friendship from their brother and sister school children in Milwaukee. Click here to see the children enjoying the rosaries.
The hard work and generosity of the students of St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s in Port Washington, whose rosaries brought such joy, will not be forgotten by the children of El Rosario. This sharing of time and talent is a perfect example of how we all can connect with our brothers and sisters in the Dominican Republic.
Photos: Above and linked--students from St. Mary's and St. Peter's in Port Washington, who made the rosaries, contributed by Denise Murre. Linked photos from Dominican Republic contributed by Sam Lucero. All photos and stories used with permission.
03/14/2007