Sending forth

This evening, we all experienced perhaps one of the most meaningful and genuine prayer services.  All of the students and teachers gathered in the chapel this evening for a final time.  We heard the story of the Good Samaritan from Luke's gospel, a passage from a speech J.K. Rowling gave at Harvard, and the excerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s final speech which tied back to the story of the Good Samaritan.

While all amazing reads, the best part was during a song we were all signing.  The words were simply, "I am a believer."  One of the students played the song on the piano while we all sang it.  Eventually people began clapping, and then one boy went into the middle of the chapel and started singing, dancing, and clapping.  Quickly most of the other students joined them in a complete spontaneous song and dance to the Lord.  I've never been a part of something like that and it moved me to tears.

I was also moved by students offering their reflections on the week.  Students were invited to stand up and just say a few words about the week.  Many students spoke but one girl in particular got up and said her whole life has been shifted.  She no longer wants to be a doctor as she was planning...rather she wants to be a Lasallian Volunteer and go change the world.

Wow.  That's the kind of week we had folks.  Ms. P. and I met with the Trinity kids before the prayer service and we all shared our thoughts and emotions from the week.  None of the kids wanted to leave, they were so drawn in and so excited to be a part of something big and connected.  They want to be a part of the Lasallian world now that they have had a taste.

We made many contacts this week and tonight we made some tentative plans to work with Lasallian schools in the area.  First up, I think, is something with Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn.  Stay tuned for some big news there!

OK, we're off at 7:30 so I need to get some sleep.  See you back in Manchester.