Project Joy conducted by the Franciscan Youth Movement (FYM) invited the St. Francis Prep community in Fresh Meadows to bring joy to the elderly by writing Christmas letters. Over a thousand letters were delivered by groups of FYM members to six different nursing homes and dropped off at veterans hospitals. FYM visited the elderly in their rooms, sang carols for them, delivered small gifts and spent time individually with each of the residents. Brother James, Franciscan Mission coordinator, said, “This is just one way that we put our Franciscan value to proclaim joy and hope into practice.” FYM works with all facets of the SFP Family to promote the four Franciscan values. SFP students are pictured above at Queen of Peace Nursing Home where they conduct day-long service retreats monthly.
St. Agnes Ministers to Sick Veterans
The Christmas season is an important time of service for the young women of St. Agnes A.H.S., College Point. This year, the juniors and seniors collected socks and sweatpants for the brave heroes in VA hospitals. The Dominican Youth Preachers created small Christmas trees to brighten the day of courageous veterans.
An Italian Christmas at Christ the King
Students studying Italian at Christ the King H.S., Middle Village, sang Italian Christmas Carols under the direction of their teacher, Tina Evola, for the enjoyment of their school community.
Teen News Flash
Congratulations to Senior Jack Kimmeth from Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge. He has been accepted into the United States Coast Guard Academy.
Singing for the Elderly
Every year, the Friends for Life at Fontbonne Hall Academy, Bay Ridge, visit a nursing home to sing Christmas carols. On Dec. 19, they visited Augustana Nursing Home. Accompanied by religious studies teacher, Frank Russo on guitar, the students sang carols on each of the seven floors and spent time visiting with the residents.
Quote in Honor of the Feast of the Epiphany
Although known as the Three Kings, the Bible does not specify how many wise men came to honor Jesus on the Epiphany. We know, however, that they followed a star: “After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.” – MT 2:9.
2017 Kosciuszko HS Essay Contest
In observance of the bicentenary of the death of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, The Kosciuszko Foundation and The Polish American Teachers Association are pleased to announce a high school essay competition: Celebrating the Life and Accomplishments of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Fighter for Democracy. It’s open to students currently attending high school in the U.S. Contestants must attest that the essay submitted is their own work. Essays require a title and approximately 1,000 words: typewritten and double spaced. Resources may include material researched in printed matter, interviews, films, tapes, places where he lived and worked and personal experiences with presentations about Kosciuszko, etc. Published resources quoted or used must be identified within the text or in a bibliography and footnoted. Essays will be judged on: knowledge of subject, historical accuracy, thematic coherence, creativity/originality in approach, organization (introduction, development, and conclusion), grammar, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation. Prizes are $500 for first place, $300 for second and $200 for third. Winners will be notified in September, 2017, and will be informed of the date, time, and place of the award ceremony. Deadline is on June 5, 2017. Full details can be viewed at: www.thekf.org. Go to News & Events and click on Essay Competition 2017 for U.S. students.
