MIAMI
| For families who struggle financially, miracles can come in a backpack at the
beginning of the school year.
This
year, the Archdiocese of Miami made miracles happen for nearly 2,200 families
by purchasing backpacks and notebooks, pencils and crayons, scissors and glue
for students in eight local Catholic schools.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA| FC
Billy the Marlin took the time to not only help out with the St. Mary Cathedral School back-to-school supply distribution, but also to pose with students.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA| FC
A St. Helen School student is deep in prayer as she thanks God for all of the blessings she has received in the form of back-to-school supplies. St. Helen School was one of eight schools who received supplies donated by the Archdiocese of Miami.
The
supplies were bought with money raised at the Gala for the Poor, held to mark
the 55th anniversary of the archdiocese in 2013.
The
children who received them attend Holy Family and St. James schools in North Miami,
St. Lawrence in North Miami Beach, Holy Rosary-St. Richard in Cutler Bay, St.
Mary Cathedral in Miami, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and St. Helen in Fort
Lauderdale, and St. Bartholomew in Miramar.
“What
distinguishes our drives from others is that they are personalized,” said Martha
Velasquez, senior director of Stewardship and Special Events at the Archdiocese
of Miami. “We went to each school and asked each teacher for their rosters.
This way, students get exactly what they need.”
From
Aug. 17-21, students and their families picked up their supplies at their
respective schools.
“School’s
awesome. I wanna go right now,” said Gabriel Viloria upon receiving his book bag
and marveling at the amount of materials he received.
Gabriel
is beginning the third grade at St. Mary Cathedral School — the first time he
attends a Catholic school. He put the supplies to immediate use as he pulled
out one of the composition notebooks and began to draw.
“It
was actually Gabriel that said a year ago that this would be his school,” said his
mom, Evelyn Viloria, as she watched her son draw a picture of a church. “It was
tough, but we kept praying and believing. The help and support we have received
has been a testimony of faith. We have made it here.”
The
St. Mary’s distribution, which took place Aug. 21, featured a surprise visitor:
Billy the Marlin. The Miami Marlins mascot joined St. Mary’s faculty and
volunteers in helping prep and distribute the supplies and adjust book bag
straps. He also high-fived, hugged and posed for photos with students and their
families.
“I
used to love writing in composition notebooks,” said Alfredo Mesa, vice
president and executive director of the Marlins Foundation, as he sorted
through the school supplies. “With the Kiwanis, we couldn’t miss this.”
The
Kiwanis of Little Havana, who partner with the Miami Marlins, were instrumental
in storing and delivering the supplies donated by the archdiocese, said Velasquez.
The
students received enough supplies to last them through the majority of the year.
They also received JanSport backpacks because they come with a lifetime
warranty. So whether a child received a book bag as a kindergartener or as an
eighth grader, the bag could accompany them on the remainder of their
educational journey.
“Students
are happy that someone thinks about them,” said Father Lucien Pierre,
administrator of St. Helen Parish.
He
led a prayer before the distribution began at the school, and also thanked the
Archdiocese of Miami and its donors. “They (the students) will look at their
backpacks and say a prayer for having a backpack, and for the donors.”
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA| FC
Gabriel Viloria shows his mom Evelyn the new composition notebook he received along with other school supplies for his third grade year at St. Mary's Cathedral School. At right is St. Mary School Principal Sister Michelle Fernandez, of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, taking on the role of reporter as a cameraman captures the moment.