MS - Walk for a Cure

Over 400,000 people are affected by MS in our country, including several of our own families

at BA and David Osmond.  According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, "Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease." 
                                       

This past week, Mrs. Varady, a member of our BA family, asked us to join her and her family in a walk for a cure for MS in Clark, NJ on April 14.  Our school rallied together for a jean tag day raising almost $300 for MS research.  Her son, Dan, who has been diagnosed with MS writes,

"Dear Benedictine Community,
Thank you all for your kind donation to fight Multiple Sclerosis.  It has been over 3 years in my journey and because of kind gifts like your school has provided, we are one step closer to beating this wretched disease... Please join Team Dan at Oak Ridge Park in Clark for the annual 3 mile walk on Sunday, April 14.
With Sincere Thanks,
Dan Varady

Ask Governor Christie

This past October,  our Campus Ministers testified before the House Committee in October with Assemblywoman Huttle on a newly proposed Anti-Human Trafficking Bill A3352.  It was passed in the House and recently by the Senate.  The Bill now waits for approval and the signature of Governor Christie.  Everyone can be involved and be a Modern Day Abolitionist to help keep our children safe and change history.

Please call or send an e-mail TODAY Governor Christie's Office and ask for his support. Together we can make a difference and protect our young people.

  Live in NJ? Tell Gov. Christie to sign the a -trafficking law 

http://act.polarisproject.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13371

You can also sign a petition on Change.org regarding the treatment of children trafficked as victims and not criminals.

 - Sign our petition: Kids, Not Criminals

For more information, check the websites of Polaris.org or our Freedom Partner, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives.

Helping Others in Need

During extended Homeroom, Ms. Banks-Suggs and the Couponing for a Cause Club presented Ms. Laura Sodano of the Community Food Bank of Hillside with several dozen bags of food, diapers and wipes totaling over $400. from Coupons for Causes service project.

The Mission of the Community Food Bank is to give food, hope and help to the surrounding communities.  They have an active food stamp program, kid cafes, cooking school, kids closet, food box program for mothers and the elderly, and a teen leadership council. Thousands of families and children are served each day with food, clothes and hot meals. 

Support your local Community Food Bank and make a real difference in someone's life.

BEE HOPE

Jesus came to serve and not to be served.  Following in the footsteps of our Lord, we continue to serve the poorest of the poor through our Compassionate Action: 

• A.C.T.S. Club is collecting Pop Tabs for the Ronald Mc Donald House;
• African American Club is collecting Coupons for Causes to donate food for the Community Food Bank;
• National Honor Society is collecting money for Crop Walk; and
• Campus Ministry is holding a jean tag day and supporting a Walk-A-Thon to raise money for National MS research.

 We serve others because our goal is to BEE HOPE for our brothers and sisters in need. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

In addition to green shamrocks and delicious corn beef, St. Patrick's Day is a time to commemorate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. "Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Many legends grew up around him—for example, that he used the shamrock to explain the Trinity." (Encylcopedia Brittanica)

Cassedy Deegan, a Sophomore, entered an essay contest and won first place as she reflected on the Saint's good works for the Lord. She, along with Sister Germaine and approximately twenty students joined the St. Patrick's Day Parade for the Archdiocese of Newark.






In honor of St. Patrick's bravery as a slave, several of our Student In Action Leaders went to school this Sunday to skype with students from the Toledo Ohio High Schools. They exchanged their plans to combat human trafficking and promised to work together to help eradicate this human evil in our society.

NEW NAME

Frederick Douglass Family Foundation has new name and website.  Ken Morris, the great great great grandson is carrying on his legacy through education against human trafficking, modern day slavery.

Benedictine Academy students have joined forces with Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives to help abolish human trafficking .  Become a Freedom Partner and speak out to raise awareness, Together, we can and are making a difference.

Check it out: Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives http://www.FDFI.org    

ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

The Campus Ministry Student Leaders have been working very hard this year raising awareness against  Human Trafficking, making hundreds of comfort bags for Hurricane Sand victims, collecting food for he homeless, and visiting nursing homes.  It was time to go to the well at United Water in Bergen County and be refreshed in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, who is Living Water for us.   Called by Name,  each of Benedictine's Cor Defenders reflected on the spiritual connotation and scriptural passage for their name.  It was amazing to hear how the gift of who they are is reflected so clearly in the word of God.   Vanessa is our "Free Spirit", while Joyce is "Full of Joy",  Marina is our "Wonderful Gift"...

Having taken the Road Less Travelled, they reflected on where they have been, the Mission and Belief Statements, and where they were being called to serve the Lord next.  They proudly and joyfully chanted our Mission and Belief Statements:

We are 21st Century LEADERS.
We LISTEN with the ear or our hearts in the Benedictine Tradition.
We are life-long LEARNERS who are critical thinkers and intellectually curious.
We LOVE rooted in the gospel values following JESUS as our first teacher.
We are responsible LEADERS who have a shared responsibility to build a culture of peace 
and a just world.
We treat everyone with dignity and respect.  Prayer & Eucharist is the apex of our daily lives.
We believe everyone can achieve academic success through self-discipline.
Service Leadership is our passion as we respond to the needs of the local and global communities.

KTU CARES - 2/17

Cindy Vero is the host of a Radio Show on Sunday mornings at 7 called "KTU Cares" where she has the honor of interviewing local celebrities and hometown heroes who are giving back to their communities!

A few weeks ago, Benedictine's Cor Defenders spoke out about the dangers of Human Trafficking on WKTU, 103.5 Radio Station.

CLICK KTU CARES: ACTIVE LINK TO INTERVIEW on 2/17
KTU CARES - 2/17

Sergent Mike Jones of the Elizabeth Police Force recently joined our team to help abolish Human Trafficking, a Modern Day Form of Slavery. He opened the radio interview by referring to our team as Benedictine Academy's "Do-Gooder Squad".

WKTU is the Number One Radio Station in New York City with over 5.4 million weekly listeners.

If the truth be known, we have an entire student body of "Do-Gooders". Every student and staff at Benedictine Academy believes we have a shared responsibility to build a more, just and peaceful world. Each of our students have learned to listen with the ear of their hearts, and follow the Lord's will in leading others to help our neighbor in need. And when we do live for this higher purpose by delivering happiness to others, we find our lives have new meaning and happiness is delivered in return one hundred fold.

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Benedictine Cor Defenders had a very informative phone conference this past Wednesday with Tracy Thompson, Assistant Attorney General, NJ Division of Criminal Justice, Human Trafficking Program Director. We discussed the next course of action both for the State and our Freedom Partner Team for helping abolish Human Trafficking, Modern Day Slavery.

Our students listened and learned that there continues to be a great need to educate our young people and the general public against the dangers of Human Trafficking. We know that President Barack Obama and the United Nations have continued to ask that we raise awareness and our voices about this hideous crime. If we remain ignorant about the evil that is being done in our society and the world, then innocent young people could fall victim to being trafficked. At Benedictine Academy we are saying NO MORE and are doing something to change our history with regard to slavery.

 We shared our efforts to date and our eager to begin joining forces with our government so that together, we can raise awareness to the people in our communities and hopefully end Modern Day Slavery once and for all. "THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!"

A special thanks to Rowena Madden of the N. J. Governor's Office for assisting us in our efforts.

FEBRUARY AWARDS

Each First Friday of the month, the entire student body and staff gather as one sacred community at the St. Walburga Monastery Chapel for celebration of Liturgy. After the conclusion of our Celebration , the Students In Action Team honored Beatrice and the Gospel Choir for their outstanding dedication and service in music and song to the Benedictine Academy community all year long. Ms. DiGiaimo, the Gospel Choir Moderator,awarded each member with a Jefferson Awards Students In Action Certificate as the entire student body joined in with a tremendous round of applause.

Gospel Choir members included Beatrice  (Student Leader), 

Nylah , Denisha , Rhodalin , Destinee , Jada , Ramira , Eunice , 

Alexander , Karol , Janelle , and Rodrie.