Windsor students take part in Caritas Day of Service ahead of Easter long weekend
Students and staff at FJ. Brennan Catholic High School observed Holy Thursday by hosting their annual Caritas Day of Service.
School officials said it’s a central part of the Brennan experience, with Caritas being a Latin term that refers to charity, kindness and service to others.
“Leading by example,” exclaimed campus minister Rebecca Daoud.
“This day is, in the Catholic Church, we recognize it as the day that Jesus at the Last Supper washed the feet of the disciples, and so we also try to imitate that. And we encourage our students to imitate that by being of service to others. Not necessarily by washing their feet, but through other activities.”
Students engaged in activities at the school like assembling lunches for the Downtown Mission, making Easter cards for paediatric and palliative patients with Transition to Betterness, and collecting and sorting neighbourhood food donations.
Several groups also took part in off-site activities by visiting seniors' homes and serving food at community kitchens.
“Every year it's always a buzz within the school community,” Daoud explained. “The teachers always have ideas. They're starting to think about it at the beginning of the school year. The kids are excited to do it.”
Staff said the annual day of service has been taking place at the school for upwards of 20 years, with formers students often returning to help.Students and staff at FJ. Brennan Catholic High School observed Holy Thursday by hosting their annual Caritas Day of Service in Windsor, Ont., on Thursday, March 28, 2024. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)
“It's kind of like a fun day where we just like volunteer and help out,” said student Nina Sfalcin. “People do stuff for you. So it's like, why not give back to them?”
Grade 12 student Shade Adewusi told CTV News the day is a good way make connections within the community and get exposed to volunteerism.
“I really like it personally because this is how I started volunteering,” Adewusi said. “I think it's really good for especially our younger students like our grade nines and tens because of Covid, they didn't really get a good start.”
“So I think this is a really good way for them to make those connections and kind of see what kind of volunteering they like to do and where they would like to spend their time to help the community.”
Adewusi added, “it really kind of equips our students with leadership skills that they need for their workplace or post-secondary, and it teaches us really valuable skills as well as just helping out in the community.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
'Of course, yes': Poland latest European country with interest in Canadian LNG
The President of Poland says his country would 'of course' be interested in purchasing Canadian liquefied natural gas if it were available, while the Canadian federal government has said it is 'not interested' in subsidizing future projects.
Dozens in Italy give a fascist salute on the anniversary of Mussolini's execution
Dozens of people raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted a fascist chant during ceremonies Sunday to honor Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
Britney Spears settles long-running legal dispute with estranged father, finally bringing ultimate end to conservatorship
Britney Spears has reached a settlement with her estranged father more than two years after the court-ordered termination of a conservatorship that had given him control of her life, their attorneys said.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Health minister 'deeply appreciative' of doctors but capital gains changes here to stay
Health Minister Mark Holland says while he is 'deeply appreciative' of the work doctors in Canada do, the federal government has no plans to scrap the proposed capital gains tax changes outlined in the latest budget, despite opposition from the Canadian Medical Association.
A top Qatari official urges Israel and Hamas to do more to reach a ceasefire deal
A senior Qatari official has urged both Israel and Hamas to show "more commitment and more seriousness" in ceasefire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds on both sides to move toward a deal that would set Israeli hostages free and bring potential respite in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza.