By Katherine Rojas - Florida Catholic
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Camino de Santiago pilgrims pose for a photo in front of the beneficiary of their fundraising walk, St. Mary Cathedral School; from left: Christina Poo, St. Augustine Parish, Coral Gables; Lily Prellezo, Epiphany Parish, South Miami; Sadie Sosa, St. Augustine Parish; and the group's organizer, Susan Abell. A fifth walker, Mayra Parlapiano of St. Louis Parish in Pinecrest, could not be present for the photo.
MIAMI | Susan Abell will be going for a long walk this September: 75 miles in 10 days, from Leon to Santiago, Spain.
She will be walking the final portion of the famed Camino de Santiago with four friends, but her purpose is not just spiritual. Her ultimate goal is to raise $10,000 for St. Mary Cathedral School.
It all began a few years ago, when Abell, who worked as marketing director and then Key Biscayne branch manager for Coldwell Banker, attended one of the monthly Legatus dinners. Legatus is an organization for Catholic CEOs and business professionals.
The speaker was Sister Michelle Hernandez of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, principal of St. Mary’s School.
“She spoke about the state of parochial education, and I was really impressed,” said Abell, a member of St. Hugh Parish in Coconut Grove.
When she retired last August, Abell was somewhat apprehensive about the amount of free time she would have. She decided to call St. Mary’s and ask if they needed any help — perhaps a reading tutor. “When I called they said I was the answer to their prayers!”
Abell was inspired by her two daughters, who both attended Catholic schools and later decided their passion was to teach children. They were involved in Teach for America, an organization that hires recent college graduates to teach children in inner city schools.
Seeing her daughters help underprivileged children had an effect on Abell, and made her want to help as well. Her passion lies in teaching kids to read skillfully and improve their comprehension, which is crucial for their success in school and in their future careers.
Abell goes into St. Mary’s twice a week, and helps throughout the entire day. She teaches children in small groups, from kindergarten through sixth grade, outside of the class. Both she and the teachers prepare lessons that connect with the topics that will be covered in the children’s regular classes.
While comprehension is the main goal, sometimes basic subjects such as the letters or the sounds they make are also reviewed. The students love to have this special attention from a teacher, as it is easy to get lost in a class of 30 to 35 kids.
“It’s enormously satisfying to see them progress. The kids are really receptive and seem to enjoy it. The teachers will often say to me that it has made a huge difference,” Abell said.
These experiences, the remarkable students, and the kindhearted faculty impacted Abell so much that she decided to raise funds for the school, settling on a goal of $10,000.
“I feel we all have an obligation to give back. It doesn’t matter what your state of economic existence is; at St. Mary’s they always give back. The staff really cares about the kids,” said Abell.
With the help of her daughters, she has created a website where people can donate, and shared it on Facebook so that former coworkers, friends, alumni of St. Mary’s School, family and others can participate.
Abell has reached out to everyone she knows, and as of late July, just four weeks after she started, she had raised nearly $5,000. Generous donations also have been made outside of the Internet.
She recalled, for example, bringing a cousin from out of town on a visit to St. Mary’s. While they were there, the ceiling in one of the classrooms broke and began to leak. Her cousin was so affected by the love and care exhibited at the school that she donated enough money — $3,000 — to repair it.
On the fundraising website, Abell describes St. Mary’s as “an oasis of safety, caring and hope.”
“You never leave that school without multiple thank-yous. It is the most welcoming environment. They are so grateful for anything you do to help,” she said, referring especially to Sister Michelle, the principal, and Father Christopher Marino, the cathedral’s rector.
Abell plans to reach her $10,000 goal before she and her four friends –local Catholics Tina Poo, Lily Prellezo, Sadie Sosa and Mayra Parlapiano — leave for Spain in September. They plan to stay in hotels periodically, but will spend the bulk of the trip walking through northwest Spain.
She added that she is taken aback by how many people have already contributed to St. Mary’s cause. “To those who have donated or supported: I am immensely grateful. As I said, every single penny will be accounted for, and nothing goes to waste in this community. To those who haven’t, the amount can never be too small, and there is still time to donate.”
To donate money to help Susan Abell reach her goal, visit http://www.gofundme.com/bc33n4.
She will be walking the final portion of the famed Camino de Santiago with four friends, but her purpose is not just spiritual. Her ultimate goal is to raise $10,000 for St. Mary Cathedral School.
It all began a few years ago, when Abell, who worked as marketing director and then Key Biscayne branch manager for Coldwell Banker, attended one of the monthly Legatus dinners. Legatus is an organization for Catholic CEOs and business professionals.
The speaker was Sister Michelle Hernandez of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, principal of St. Mary’s School.
“She spoke about the state of parochial education, and I was really impressed,” said Abell, a member of St. Hugh Parish in Coconut Grove.
When she retired last August, Abell was somewhat apprehensive about the amount of free time she would have. She decided to call St. Mary’s and ask if they needed any help — perhaps a reading tutor. “When I called they said I was the answer to their prayers!”
Abell was inspired by her two daughters, who both attended Catholic schools and later decided their passion was to teach children. They were involved in Teach for America, an organization that hires recent college graduates to teach children in inner city schools.
Seeing her daughters help underprivileged children had an effect on Abell, and made her want to help as well. Her passion lies in teaching kids to read skillfully and improve their comprehension, which is crucial for their success in school and in their future careers.
Abell goes into St. Mary’s twice a week, and helps throughout the entire day. She teaches children in small groups, from kindergarten through sixth grade, outside of the class. Both she and the teachers prepare lessons that connect with the topics that will be covered in the children’s regular classes.
While comprehension is the main goal, sometimes basic subjects such as the letters or the sounds they make are also reviewed. The students love to have this special attention from a teacher, as it is easy to get lost in a class of 30 to 35 kids.
“It’s enormously satisfying to see them progress. The kids are really receptive and seem to enjoy it. The teachers will often say to me that it has made a huge difference,” Abell said.
These experiences, the remarkable students, and the kindhearted faculty impacted Abell so much that she decided to raise funds for the school, settling on a goal of $10,000.
“I feel we all have an obligation to give back. It doesn’t matter what your state of economic existence is; at St. Mary’s they always give back. The staff really cares about the kids,” said Abell.
With the help of her daughters, she has created a website where people can donate, and shared it on Facebook so that former coworkers, friends, alumni of St. Mary’s School, family and others can participate.
Abell has reached out to everyone she knows, and as of late July, just four weeks after she started, she had raised nearly $5,000. Generous donations also have been made outside of the Internet.
She recalled, for example, bringing a cousin from out of town on a visit to St. Mary’s. While they were there, the ceiling in one of the classrooms broke and began to leak. Her cousin was so affected by the love and care exhibited at the school that she donated enough money — $3,000 — to repair it.
On the fundraising website, Abell describes St. Mary’s as “an oasis of safety, caring and hope.”
“You never leave that school without multiple thank-yous. It is the most welcoming environment. They are so grateful for anything you do to help,” she said, referring especially to Sister Michelle, the principal, and Father Christopher Marino, the cathedral’s rector.
Abell plans to reach her $10,000 goal before she and her four friends –local Catholics Tina Poo, Lily Prellezo, Sadie Sosa and Mayra Parlapiano — leave for Spain in September. They plan to stay in hotels periodically, but will spend the bulk of the trip walking through northwest Spain.
She added that she is taken aback by how many people have already contributed to St. Mary’s cause. “To those who have donated or supported: I am immensely grateful. As I said, every single penny will be accounted for, and nothing goes to waste in this community. To those who haven’t, the amount can never be too small, and there is still time to donate.”
To donate money to help Susan Abell reach her goal, visit http://www.gofundme.com/bc33n4.
