In the beginning of this month Villa Maria College celebrated Heritage Week, an annual series of event that series of events commemorating those who inspired and founded the Felician Sisters.
“These were strong, bold, visionary women, and they still are,” said Dr. Matthew Giordano, Villa’s president. If you are ever looking for inspiration to create change—to go about doing the hard work, day in and day out, of making yourself and the world a better place—look no further than the Sisters. In an era when we heroize many people too quickly, they exemplify the courage and selflessness that true heroism entails.”
Villa’s 2018 Heritage Days celebration consisted of an opening prayer service led by Campus Minister Father Ayaga, a presentation on Transformation by Ashley Harris, a screening of ‘Empowered to Transform,’ which was created by a graduate of Villa’s animation program, and a screening of a film about the Felician Sisters and their Ministries, a service learning fair, at which Villa students could learn more about area agencies at which they can fulfill their service learning requirements, a mass and blessing of the Pets in celebration of the Feast of St Francis, a drive to collect personal items for the Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry and Blessed Mary Angela Day.
This year, the College opted to collect personal items because the food pantry is fully stocked with non-perishable foods. According to Sister Michaelanne, who manages the food pantry for the College, the following items were received during Heritage Days:
- 8 boxes of facial tissue
- 4 bottles of shampoo
- 1 bottle of hand lotion
- 4 bottles of body wash
- 7 deodorants
- 1 baby wash
- 6 regular size tubes of toothpaste
- 9 toothbrushes
- 2 feminine products
- 2 hair products
- 50 assorted travel size products
- 6 cans of soup
- 3 cans of tuna
“It has been said that ‘kindness has a beautiful way of reaching down into a weary heart and making it shine like the rising sun,'” said Sister Michaelanne. “Certainly, the personal care items gathered by the College community for the Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry will impact positively on our clients. Kindness born of compassion must never be underrated in its power to instill hope and initiate transformation. Our Heritage Days have given us a wonderful opportunity to learn, reflect, and put into action the love of neighbor that inspired the good works of St. Francis, St. Clare, and Blessed Mary Angela.”
For more information on Heritage Days at Villa, visit Villa.edu/calendar.
