Middle School Dances for Diapers

They're at it again...Friday Sept. 7th was the first back to school dance and the kids got their grooves on while helping out the Gabriel Project of Austin. They brought diapers and other baby supplies to help stock the Austin Diocese group. Their thoughtfulness helps fund and support unwed mothers in crisis. Thanks, middle schoolers!

You think you know Mr. Wiggins?

At the first mass of the school year Dr. Knotts recognized him for his service . We know him at school as the middle school social studies teacher, the yearbook coordinator, the originator of the "big sweat" Olympic games. The lower school kids may know him as that big guy who teaches upstairs.

But did you know he serves up a mean biscuits and venison jalapeño country gravy? If you stop by Christ Community Church on South Lamar early on a Sunday morning you can see him in action, cooking a hot breakfast with friends (and some of his eighth grade volunteers, I might add) for 150 hungry folks of Austin. He gets up very early on Sundays to do this important work; it's the only place in Austin to serve a hot meal to the homeless on Sundays, and Mr. Wiggins was one of the folks who organized this service back in the 80's. That's commitment.

There you go -- a few more reasons to love Mr. Wiggins: his kind heart, his leadership of his students even on the weekends, his helpful hands and his lionhearted way with country gravy.

Changing Lives...Bringing Hope

You may recognize the folks in the top picture: Rachel McCarthy, alumnus 2007, and her father (center and right). You might not recognize the one on the left and the little boy in the photo below. Diane Black, the director of the Harvesters outreach program, recently made a visit to meet the McCarthy's here at St. Gabriel's to thank them on behalf of that smiling child. If you've been following this blog for awhile you know the effort the McCarthy's spearheaded last year for The Harvesters, the orphanage in Sudan.

Through a chance meeting, the McCarthy's recognized this enterprise across the world and got St. Gabriel's involved. The middle school community has donated $1116.08, plus school supplies, 5 laptop computers (Yes, they need computers!), and educational teaching supplies.

I don't know about you, but every time I read about some of the problems in Sudan I can't quite get my head around it; the brokenness seems so vast. For some of us, we consider these seemingly hopeless places around the globe and we pray. Others, the miracle-workers, think "Those are my sisters and brothers, those are my children," and they roll up their sleeves. I've bookmarked the harvester's website on my laptop because every time I go to their website and read the newsletter my heart is hopeful for Sudan. There exists a place there you won't recognize from the news we normally read. Yes, the tragic stories exist, with real names and faces, but they are interwoven with stories of change and hope. Truly.

The picture of that happy kiddo comes directly from The Harvesters' website. Check out the link to many more faces of hope and joy, and see for yourself Christ's hands and feet working in Sudan.