My Week in the Mountains

At Our Lady of the Mountains School (OLM) in Paintsville, Kentucky, every morning begins by gathering in the library, forming a circle, and praying for each student’s special intentions. With a hint of Southern drawl, each student recites their intentions for their favorite nuns and priests, for those with Ebola, for anyone who needed their prayers, and, last week,“for the Notre Dame students.”  My days at OLM ended with students chasing after our car as they rushed to wave to us as we left for the day. From the beginning to the end, the students of OLM embraced our very presence.

            My experience at OLM was part of the Center of Social Concerns Appalachia Service immersion program. Over 200 Notre Dame students took part in the seminar  a series of 6 classes leading up to a week of service in the Appalachia region of the United States. There were various sites to pick from, each tackling an issue of rural poverty. As I hope to someday be a teacher, I was naturally drawn to education. Luckily, I was accepted to the site at Our Lady of the Mountains.

I spent the weeks leading up to the trip filled with anticipation. I planned a play for the students to put on and I got to know the group of six girls who would travel there with me. But, the week before the trip was exhausting and emotionally depleting. I was beginning to regret my decision to go on the trip- surely a week of sleep and the comforts of home might be more of what I needed. Yet, I woke up bleary eyed at 6AM and made my way to the vans.

As our trip began, my hesitations disappeared. When we arrived we met Sister Lillian, the school’s principal, and Sister Nancy and Father Hopp who hosted us in a rectory in  a nearby church. We were joined on our first night in Paintsville by some older students from OLM as well as members of the community. As we played corn hole and ate pizza, we realized how everyone we met was so welcoming.

The welcome continued as we began volunteer work  at the school. I spent each morning working with the younger students on their songs for the play. We put on a production of Noah’s Ark complete with masks and songs. We joined the students for lunch each day, eating at their tables and joining them for recess. My afternoon was always spent with the older kids, helping them rehearse their lines for the play and then helping teach social studies. It was incredibly fulfilling to watch their faces light up as we worked in their classrooms and joined them for games in the school yard after class. We also spent time doing organizational work that the school day might be too busy for the staff to get around to, including organizing a closet and tidying a science lab.

After school, we joined Sister Lillian, Sister Nancy, Father Hopp, and members of the community for Mass. Then we joined different members of the community for dinner. We ate Chinese with the grandparents of two of the littlest and sweetest girls at OLM. We went to a world famous barbeque joint with parishioners and teachers. Four different families joined us for dinner at a Mexican restaurant. It was a great way to get to know their stories and tell them ours.

In the evenings, we often participated in different activities. One night we joined volunteers from the Christian Appalachia Project for a bonfire. We also visited the thrift store that Sister Nancy operated for the people of Paintsville. On our second to last night we went to the Highway Country Music Museum for a Bluegrass and Barn Dance night. We had planned to meet up with another Notre Dame group there, but we also realized that many of our new friends we met in Paintsville, were there too. That night in particular was a coming together of two worlds, two groups of friends- old and new.

Our last day ended with a performance of the play. Every student had a part and several parents came to watch. It went perfectly! We then surprised the kids with a rendition of “The Cup Song” in which we sang about how much we were going to miss their beautiful school. They responded by singing us a song, giving us notes, and other mementos to remember them by. It was a moment of pure happiness. The students seemed so grateful to us for our presence in their school and in return we were so grateful for all the joy they had brought us that week.

In all honesty, the trip felt less like a service trip, and more like something beyond that. It was a union of two communities. Every moment we were at Our Lady of the Mountains, we celebrated the existence of the students and they celebrated ours in return. They were serving us as much as we served them. Last Fall Break, after my trip to France, I wrote, “You trust anyway and you pray with all your heart. And you find that God has taken you exactly where you need to be.” That is how I feel once again about this Fall Break. Without a doubt, Our Lady of the Mountains School in Paintsville, Kentucky, was exactly where I was supposed to be.

Faith Lessons from ND History

Our campus is a picturesque place, constantly rated one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. What many don’t realize is that behind the striking old buildings and stunning landscaping is a rich history. As our university’s history is tied very closely to that of the Holy Cross priests who founded it, we can learn a great deal by taking the time to listen and reflect on their stories.

The Log Chapel

When Father Sorin reached the land he declared as our campus, he created a log cabin chapel to serve all the needs of the new students of the university. The cabin was their chapel, but also their classroom, dining hall, and dormitory. All of the sprawling resources we find across campus were stuffed into their tiny cabin. After classes, students would drag the lake for clay and would make bricks to begin building the actual buildings for their university. Imagine finishing all your academic work and then spending several more hours making bricks!

Lesson Learned: Simplicity. We have so much on campus, from our gigantic stadium to our state of the art science labs. When we think back to this university’s origins, they weren’t ones of excess, but ones of simple beginnings and lots and lots of hard work.

Father Corby’s Statue

Notre Dame was a significant spot during the Civil War. South Bend was one of the very last stops on the Underground Railroad as it was so close to Michigan. Many nearby homes housed runaway slaves. During the Civil War, Father Corby felt very strongly about the North winning. He took a group of students to fight in the Battle of Gettysburg. After the battle was finished, he forgave everyone for the atrocities committed on the battlefield.

Lesson Learned: Forgiveness. It would not have been easy for a priest to watch devastating and horrific battle even if it was for a cause he believed in. In offering forgiveness to those young men, he was truly living out his vocation.

The Main Building

The most notable building on our campus is not without hardship. In April 23, 1879, the building burnt down. It was a devastating fire that also destroyed the music building and infirmary. However, Father Sorin did not give up after this disaster. He delivered one of the most famous speeches in Notre Dame history. He declared that we would be even bigger and even better than before. 

Lesson Learned: Perseverance. Throughout our faith lives we will hit roadblocks and difficult moments. There will be disasters and we will feel like our whole lives are “in flames.” Yet, we are called to rebuild bigger and better.

Take a break from midterms this week to reflect on not just the beauty of the places on campus, but on the rich stories behind them. This month is the bicentennial tribute to Father Sorin, so there are many opportunities to reflect on the beginnings of our university and his role in it.  

Living Your Faith: Spiritual Works of Mercy

In last week’s blog, I discussed how we can live out the Corporal Works of Mercy as Notre Dame students. This week, I am looking at the Spiritual Works of Mercy. These are different in that instead of serving others through physical things- food, water, shelter- we are ministering to others spiritually.

Spiritual Works of Mercy can be practiced just as conveniently, but in different ways. They call for making human and personal connections with people, and they call for understanding and compassion.

To instruct the ignorant

This means taking on the role of a teacher and helping to share your own gifts and talents with others.

On campus and in the community… you can do this by becoming a tutor. There are several different groups on campus that travel off campus to tutor at the Boys and Girls Club, La Casa de Amistad, and local high schools. You can also do this more informally in your dorm by helping others who are struggling with subjects in which you excel.

To counsel the doubtful

This is all about giving hope to others, especially those struggling with their faith.

On campus… you can do this by getting involved in a faith-sharing group where you can help discuss the ways in which your faith has helped to shaped you.. You can also do this in your dorm by helping freshmen who might be doubting their place at Notre Dame or having trouble making friends. Reaching out to them and giving them hope is a great way to live out this Spiritual Work of Mercy.

To admonish sinners

One of the toughest works, this is about “tough love” and calling out things that you see are wrong.

On campus… it is difficult to tell our friends that they are doing wrong and it is certainly not something everyone is comfortable doing. However, college is a time when really dangerous habits can form. I’m not saying you should call out any moral infraction (because let’s face it, college kids have a lot of these), but if you notice a friend who is in danger of hurting themselves or others from decisions they are making, it is a good time to give them a private word or talk to your rector about your concerns.

To bear wrongs patiently

Being patient, especially with those who bother or wrong us, is never easy,which is why this work is so important.

In your dorm… you are called to be patient with your roommates, floormates, and other residents of your hall. Yeah, it is annoying when your roommate leaves their wet laundry in the room (oh wait that’s me) or when the person in front of you takes a long time printing when you are really late for class, but we are called to accept all these things with patience and grace.

To forgive offences willingly

In this same way, we are called to forgive those who wrong us, no matter how hard it is.

In your dorm… those same people we must be patient with are the very same that we need to forgive. It is most important to remember that forgiving also means forgetting. Once you give your forgiveness, you also need to give them a clean slate. We’ve all been in that position before.

To comfort the sorrowful

This work calls us to be a friend to others by caring for them when they are sad.

With your friends… Work hard to be more aware of how each other is doing. If your friend bombed a test, didn’t get into the study abroad program they liked, or had their heart broken,this your time to minister to them. Give them a cupcake, send them pictures of baby animals- do whatever you can do to bring a smile to their face.

To pray for the living and the dead

This work of mercy reminds us to pray for others, it is so easy to pray for things we want, we desire- this is a reminder to pray for your friends, family, and even strangers.

Today… start making a prayer list. Put on it names of people you want to pray for, living or dead. Anyone from your granny to your bestie to the homeless guy you saw on the street. Add to your list and always remember to pray for everyone onit!

As we get deeper into the semester it is inevitable to let ourselves become selfish. Despite our stress and worry, we should always think of others- especially our fellow students. Challenge yourself this week to be the most caring, responsible self you can be and to live out your faith through the Spiritual Works of Mercy.