SGGA Student Inspired to Help the Poor

We are called to spread the Good News from one end of the earth to the other. That seems like a daunting task. Yet, the third graders at Saint Gregory the Great are attempting to do just that!

Sister Lisa Valentini of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC) visited St. Gregory the Great Academy on February 6, 2023 to talk to the students about her missionary work. She was dynamic and filled with the Holy Spirit. Sister Lisa shared stories of her time in Haiti with the children there. She showed the students what life looked like for children in Haiti. The students were filled with sadness seeing the conditions and poverty.

When the presentation ended, the third graders went back to their classroom. They were so excited about what Sister Lisa had shared with them, and they wondered how they too could make an impact. Recalling what they knew about St. Therese, they remembered that small things can be done with great love.

One of the third-graders, Olivia Maleson, had tears in her eyes. She approached her teacher and said that as part of her Lenten promise, she wanted to help the children on Haiti. Olivia established a donation box in the classroom where other third-grade students could share their change which would ultimately be given directly to Sister Lisa. Olivia made it very clear that the money she wanted to donate was going to be her money and not money her parents gave her.

Olivia decided to make bracelets to sell so that she could earn the money to help the poor. Her mother, Doctor Maleson, brought the bracelets into work. Soon, they were selling like hotcakes! Everyone wanted to help. Olivia had inspired them all! This was not a religion assignment, nor was it anything Olivia had to do. Sister Lisa Valentini had touched Olivia’s heart. Olivia “didn’t think any person should have to live in poverty.”

Her religion teacher, Mrs. Dana Hoover, could not be more proud of Olivia. This is faith in action!

 

Posted 3/17/23
Thanks to the St. Gregory the Great Evangelization Team, Olivia Maleson, Dr. Maleson, and Mrs. Hoover for sharing this news!