Echoes from the Bell Tower

On Saturday, March 9, the Alumni Office at Saint Meinrad hosted the tenth annual Saint Meinrad Day of Service. Since its inaugural year in 2014, the day’s theme has been Ora et Labora (pray and work). Along with the service activities, prayer is planned into the day through celebrating Mass or praying the Liturgy of the Hours, including a special prayer written by Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, OSB.

This year there were 15 service sites across 12 cities, led by alumni and oblates. Over 370 people registered for the event, making it the largest Day of Service to date.

The site locations were Alexandria, LA; Bloomington, IN; Copley, OH; Denver, CO; Evansville, IN; Hampton, VA; Hugo, OK; Indianapolis, IN; Louisville, KY; New Albany, IN; New York, NY; and St. Meinrad, IN.

Saint Meinrad oblates, Andy and Bridget Kosegi, attended a service project at St. Vincent de Paul in Indianapolis, IN. At that location, volunteers sorted and organized donated clothing and items, cleaned facility spaces, prepared a hot meal and snack bags to be distributed, and engaged with those who came to be served. They offered the following reflection from the event:

We have been oblates of Saint Meinrad for nearly eight years and had yet to be able to participate in a Saint Meinrad Day of Service. We were very excited when we realized that we could make it this year and even more excited to see the volunteer opportunity with the St. Vincent de Paul homeless ministry.

While we may have thought we were coming to “help” others, we were the ones who left completely in awe of God’s love in action through this ministry. In particular, one of the first gentleman we served was looking for a dress shirt. When we spoke more with him, we came to realize that it was for his daughter’s funeral who had recently died from a drug overdose. He then broke down sobbing, saddened by her death and ashamed of the role his own addiction may have played in it.

What a gift that we were there that day and that time to be able to console him and pray with him and encourage him to not lose hope and relapse himself. God was truly present with us all in that moment. That one experience was so impactful and will remain with us for years to come. Many thanks to Saint Meinrad and the team at St. Vincent de Paul for hosting this event and for all the good work you do. Many blessings upon you all.

To view photos from all the Day of Service sites, please click here.