I am writing this during the “spiritual sweet spot” that exists for me in November and December. For many years I have been involved with the school’s Fall Retreat in early November, which inspires me to see so many of our students building community around the proper center—the Eucharist. We then hit Thanksgiving which is a time to reflect on the many blessings I enjoy. I typically renew my consecration to Mary on December 8th, which means the 33 days prior is a time of preparation and reflection on her goodness and how she leads us so beautifully to her Son. I love the feast days of Our Lady of Kibeho (November 28), Immaculate Conception (December 8), Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) and then Mary, Mother of God (January 1). And of course, the high point of it all is the incredible mystery of God becoming man in the most humble of circumstances on Christmas Day. This season provides the backdrop for two stories I want to share.
For context, in 2010 I made a pilgrimage to Rwanda with Father Meysenburg and two of our teachers, Julie Schonewise and Jane Connealy. This pilgrimage introduced us to Immaculée Ilibagiza, who survived the Rwandan genocide by hiding in a 3’ x 4’ bathroom with seven other women for 91 days! Her story is an amazing story of faith in Our Lady and the power of forgiveness. The trip also introduced me to Our Lady of Kibeho, who appeared to several children at a school in Kibeho in the 1980’s. Finally, the 8 days in Rwanda showed me the absolute joy that can exist even in the midst of poverty.
As a result of my trip to Rwanda, I was invited to serve on the board of directors for the Abana Foundation. Abana means “kids” in Kinyarwandan; the mission of the Abana Foundation is to “Empower kids to feed, teach and give hope to people in Rwanda.” The foundation helps feed the kids of the villages near Kibeho by underwriting the production and distribution of Amandazi, a dense, nutrient-rich roll that for some children might be the only meal of the day. We teach the children by supporting a Catholic children’s academy and providing scholarships for students to attend one of the high schools (in Rwanda, high schools are typically boarding schools).
At our last board meeting, I heard two stories that made me reflect on the blessings I enjoy and too often take for granted.
One was the story of an 8 year-old boy who walks to school every day. His trip takes him between 2.5 and 3 hours each way! It struck me about the tremendous sacrifices kids like him are making to get an education, with hopes for a brighter future. I know there are many examples of sacrifices families make here in Lincoln to attend a Catholic school.
One of our scholarship recipients wrote a thank you letter to the Abana Foundation. In it, she said something puzzling: “I want you to know that I am not pregnant.” Apparently due to the pandemic things became even more difficult financially for many families in Rwanda. According to the priest who is our chief contact there, some of this young lady’s classmates turned to prostitution to help pay for the costs of attending the boarding school. Many of these teens have become pregnant. This gal was trying to say that because of the scholarship, she hasn’t had the pressure to join these other students. Her story both broke my heart and lifted my spirits at the same time.
These stories remind me that Pius X High School exists first and foremost because God has decided that it is good. He has placed us under the mantle of protection of His Blessed Mother, and uses the generosity and great sacrifice of so many to provide a quality Catholic education that is changing the lives of our kids. I am grateful to you for your support of Pius X, and ask you to join me in begging Him to continue to bless and direct the efforts of this school in the year ahead.
