This summer, 11 Network students and three educators gathered at Convent of the Sacred Heart, 91st Street in New York City, New York, June 20 to 26, 2024. In the spirit of Goal IV, “schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to the building of community as a Christian value,” members of the Network came together for a week of education and service. During this project, Sacred Heart students from across the United States (US) and Canada put their “Faith in Action.” They learned about “Being Artisans of Hope in Our Blessed and Broken World,” as the Society of the Sacred Heart conceived, through Catholic social teaching, liberation theology, and the Corporal Works of Mercy. Mr. Matthew Blake, 91st Street Religion and Theology Department Chair, accompanied the students along with Dr. Kelly Jones, 91st Street Upper School History Teacher, and Mr. Robin Vincent, Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Director of Faith and Justice in Bellevue, Washington.
Network students came together from eight Sacred Heart schools for the “Faith in Action” project. Juniors Adriana Olvera and Lilly Hernandez traveled from Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Omaha, Nebraska, and juniors Alessandra Chiaramonte and Bridget Hickey came from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland. Senior Mason Darby is a student at Berchmans Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, and sophomores Caroline Ewald and Cate Hickey attend Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Newton, Massachusetts. Sophomore Isabella Carratala journeyed from the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida, and sophomore Gaby Abarbanel came to New York City from Canada, where she attends The Sacred Heart School of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec. Junior Brianna Timlin studies at Sacred Heart Greenwich in Greenwich, Connecticut, and sophomore Reniesha McLean attends Convent of the Sacred Heart, 91st Street in New York City, New York.
Mr. Blake, Dr. Jones, and Mr. Vincent organized this project to cultivate an environment where students could learn how to be artisans of hope in their communities by directly serving those in need. Mr. Blake aspired to instill in Sacred Heart students the power of community and demonstrate how transformative it is when society unites to seek justice. Throughout this project, students explored how three different faith-based organizations in New York City advocate for systemic change. Mr. Blake discussed his inspiration for coordinating “Faith in Action” this summer and his hope for the youth’s ability to lead with compassion.
“This trip was inspired by a desire to connect theological concepts with lived experience,” Mr. Blake said. “Liberation theology and Catholic social teaching emphasize the dignity of every person, the importance of justice, and the need to address structural inequalities. I wanted students to see firsthand how faith-based organizations in New York City are responding to these teachings in real and practical ways. The goal was to move beyond the classroom, encouraging students to engage with these concepts in action, and to foster a deeper understanding of their responsibility as people of faith.”
During the week in New York City, “Faith in Action” participants visited three service sites throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. The group first served at the Welcome Table at Xavier Mission in Manhattan. Xavier is an organization rooted in justice, dignity, and compassion that supports people facing unimaginable hardships, according to xaviermission.org. In the dining hall of The Church of St. Francis Xavier, students and faculty provided a meal for hundreds of individuals and families. Throughout the four-hour shift, volunteers served those at their tables and formed genuine connections built on mutual respect. Mason spoke about his experience serving at Xavier Mission and this organization’s uplifting atmosphere.
“At Xavier, we were able to serve with other volunteers in order to provide food to the less fortunate communities in the area,” Mason said. “I remember how welcoming Xavier Mission was to our group, and how supportive they were to us in our inexperience. The community at Xavier was reflective of those I know from our Sacred Heart communities [who are] welcoming, supporting, and loving.”
For their second service site, the students and faculty traveled to the St. John’s Bread of Life in Brooklyn. This program aims to ensure access to healthy, nutritious food, and comprehensive human services, according to breadandlife.org. Participants worked a variety of roles in the site’s food pantry and learned more about the staff, volunteers, and funding that goes into running an operation of this magnitude. Mr. Blake discussed the meaningful interaction at St. John’s Bread of Life, which exemplified the impact of service and advocacy.
“Food insecurity is a significant issue in the area, and this organization plays a crucial role in addressing it by providing hot meals, pantry staples, and fresh produce to vulnerable populations.” Mr. Blake said. “What stood out was seeing how the staff not only offered food, but also built relationships with the individuals they served, providing compassionate case management. One interaction that resonated deeply was when a mother, picking up food for her family, spoke about how the support from St. John’s had helped her regain a sense of dignity and hope. Watching our students connect with her and reflect on how faith-based organizations like St. John’s live out Catholic social teaching was incredibly powerful.”
Lastly, the group traveled to the Bronx, where they visited Abraham House. This organization strives to break the cycle of incarceration by supporting those involved in the criminal justice system and their families, according to abrahamhouse.org. Abraham House offers individuals the support and tools needed to become productive citizens in society. The students sat down with Father Luke Lapean SJ, where they learned about his experience working at the house and the multitude of ways in which it strengthens the community.
Throughout the week, several speakers joined the group to discuss their own work in service. Sister Margaret Mwarili, Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) and Society Representative at the UN-NGO Office, Mr. Thomas Hollywood, Partner and Campaign Engagement Advisor at Catholic Relief Services, and Mr. José Soto Rivera, Northeast Regional Organizer at Bread for the World, discussed the impact their work has both domestically and abroad. These speakers encouraged the students to be the voice for change necessary in the world as they emphasized advocacy as a powerful way to serve nations, communities, and individuals.
When not volunteering throughout New York City, students immersed themselves in heartfelt discussions, drawing inspiration from a variety of moving texts. Participants engaged in reflection and conversation surrounding “On the Way to Healing: Humanizing a ‘gravely ill world'” by Jon Sobrino. Mr. Michael Chung, 91st street Director of Community Outreach and Upper School Service, joined the students for a discussion on an excerpt from Rachel Naomi Remen’s, “Helping, Fixing, or Serving?”. The group considered the key differences between these three ideas alongside their work at service sites throughout the city. Mr. Blake discussed his hopes for the students following this experience of service and edification.
“I hope the students came away with a sense that their faith can be a catalyst for meaningful change in the world,” Mr. Blake said. “The intersection of service and learning is powerful, and I want them to see that their actions, whether through advocacy, direct service, or even in small daily interactions, can make a difference. I also hope they developed a deeper understanding of solidarity, not just as a concept, but as a way of being that calls us to stand with those on the margins and work toward a more just society.”
Following this trip, Mason reflected on how the Sacred Heart Network has impacted him. He attended the “Living Our Mission” conference in St. Louis, Missouri, November 2023, the “Faith in Action” service project in Manhattan, New York, June 2024, and the “Hearts Rooted in Change” summit in Chicago, Illinois, October 2024. Mason commented on how interacting with RSCJ, students, and faculty from other schools has strengthened his global connection to the Network and helped him recognize the impact of a Sacred Heart experience.
“Sacred Heart is so much more than an education,” Mason said. “We are the result of a mission started over 200 years ago by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, to educate the whole child. This mission has evolved to be represented in the Goals today. The impact of our schools can be seen in every Sacred Heart student who fully takes on the mission, […] you will definitely notice [this] in our Sacred Heart Network. I encourage every Sacred Heart student to take advantage of these Network opportunities when provided. Ever since I [have] gotten involved in the Network, my love and appreciation for Sacred Heart and for my school have grown greatly. Sacred Heart truly is an amazing place full of great people.”
Featured Image by Brianna Timlin ’26
