March 30, 2016

Inspired by an author’s account of serving New York City’s most vulnerable, eight students from Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, NJ, spent part of their Spring Break embracing the seven corporal works of mercy in Washington, D.C.

Eight Oak Knoll seniors traveled to our nation’s capital from March 13 to 19, and lived out the corporal works by installing insulation in two houses for Habitat for Humanity, weeding and spreading compost at an urban farm, visiting the sick at the Missionaries of Charity Hospice Center, and making gift bags for children who have lost loved ones.

Mary Reade Donlon ’16, Christen Hillenbrand ’16, Grace Jagoe ’16, Catherine Korth ’16, Caitlin Manahan ’16, Oona Quinn ’16, Carmen Ruiz ’16 and Safia Speer ’16 participated in the trip.

Stacy Nolan, theology teacher and Campus Ministry team member at Oak Knoll’s all-girls middle and high school, accompanied the students and was impressed with their willingness to take up the corporal works, which were the subject of Kerry Weber’s book, “Mercy in the City.” The corporal works entail feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned and burying the dead.

“I’m proud of the students’ hard work, openness to new experiences and the way they grew individually and as a team,” said Nolan, who coordinated the trip along with Casie Molinari, Upper School English teacher.

For Catherine Korth, her favorite part of the trip was when the group provided breakfast and lunch for members of the homeless community being served at the Father McKenna Center. “As of now they have nothing, and it is amazing to think that we were helping them get back onto their feet,” Korth said. “I loved talking to the men and seeing them smile.”

In addition to the service itself, students met with several community leaders to learn more about the advocacy and works of their respective groups and agencies. Students also spent time at Arlington National Cemetery where they saw the grave of President John F. Kennedy, the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame. The trip also included a tour of the U.S. Supreme Court building and a visit to the headquarters of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

An Oak Knoll connection also highlighted the trip, as the seniors shared a special lunch with Sr. Barbara Bartlett, a member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus who previously served as principal and head of the Theology Department at Oak Knoll.