NEW JERSEY STATE LEGISLATURE: A RESOUNDING "YES"!

Today was truly an exciting day as BA's Globe Changer Leaders, Ariana and Andrea, changed history with their heart-felt words as they testified before the Honorable Members of the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee, along side Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, Mrs. Michalski,  followed by Mr. and Mrs. Babbitt, and the American Heart Association.  

This morning, on January 30, 2012, shortly after 10:00AM, we walked into  Committee Room 16, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, New Jersey, with Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, Dave Jenkins, Chief of Staff, JoAnne and Dave Babbitt, Founders of the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation, Corrine Orlando of the American Heart Association, and Gail Driscoll of the American Red Cross.   The bill to be considered before Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr, Chairman and the Committee was an amendment to the Good Samaritan Law.  Proposed Assembly Bill 832 would grant immunity from civil liability to certain individuals who acquire or use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

It was an amazing experience as the girls spoke about the importance of having a "heart safe environment" with accessible AED machines.  They fully embrace and echo this message of the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation who so generously donated the AED machine and CPR instruction to our school community.  Over 50 students and staff have been trained in the use of an AED and to perform CPR.  This was a momentous occasion inasmuch as the American Heart Association has been paving the way working for approximately seven years to get a bill passed.  New Jersey is one of the few states in the nation that did not have legislation granting immunity to AED acquirers and users.

The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee unanimously voted "YES" and applauded Ariana and Andrea for their concern and civil advocacy.   We thank Assemblyman Cryan and Dave Jenkins for their support and listening ears.  We thank the Judicial System for their Compassionate Action. We thank the Lord, and His Blessed Mother Mary, for their intercession. We thank Mrs. Michalski and Ms. Anderson for their guidance and support.  Amen.

PRO-LIFE MARCH



 Let us begin all things with Prayer & Eucharist.  Jesus is the apex, the first teacher of everything we do at Benedictine Academy.  

We gathered together with our brothers at St. Benedict's Prep at 6:30 A.M. on Monday morning to ask God's blessing as our Pro-Life Club prepared to travel to Washington DC to join the March with thousands of other concerned citizens. 

The Students In Action Campus Ministry Team donated the coffee and donuts for breakfast.  As a special treat, they also gave the Pro-Life Club a bucket of Kentucky fried chicken for their lunch. 

At Benedictine Academy, we are one sacred community, a family that cares for each other.

The cold wet downpour of rain did not dampen the spirits of our devoted students led by Sister Lauren. Stronger than the weather was the conviction that every life has a value and deserves the right to live.

 From the womb to the tomb, we must protect the rights and dignity of all human beings. 

Students In Action Speak Out

Before a packed house of over 150 people, parents and daughters,  our Students In Actions Leaders, Brittany, Caroline, and Andrea, shared about their passion to make our world a better place. 

Brittany engaged the whole community in a hand clapping spirit-filled song that she recently composed regarding the BA walk together to help those in need. 

Andrea shared how she embodies the school's mission to listen, learn , love and lead. She is a Jefferson Award Globe Changer who has travelled to Cincinnati,Ohio, down to Washington DC, and Philadelphia all within the last twelve months speaking out for those who have no voice.  She has spoken before the U.S. Senate and will speak before the Assembly House in Trenton tomorrow, all as part of her civil advocacy leadership in transforming our society into a more empathic civilisation.


Caroline invited each of the students to go back to their schools and join our efforts in feeding the hungry by hosting a Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive. 

She then spoke on a more serious matter - human trafficking.  Just this week, there was an attempted abduction of a middle school girl waiting at a bus stop in Long Island.  Education and awareness are critical to the safety of our young people.  Students In Action distributed to each student their own designed postcards of Hi-Five safety tips to keep young children safe.  Through the Power of One and the Power of We, we can  protect the human rights and dignity of all human beings.  It is our shared responsibility at Benedictine Academy.

We never cease to take advantage of the opportunity to Deliver Happiness

by giving a surprise WOW our staff, students and friends.

RADIO 94.7 FM

WFME-TV - Family Educational TV

CLICK BELOW RADIO SHOW:   Benedictine Academy

 http://www.wfme.net/fm/pa/mp3/human_trafficking.mp3 

This morning Benedictine Academy was invited to speak on radio and television to share their concerns regarding the invisible crime of human trafficking - a modern day form of slavery. Sister Donna Jo, Mrs. Michalski, Ariana (Senior President of the Globe Changers), and Dannah  (Senior Globe Changer), spoke about the need for schools to educate their children regarding the dangers of this 21st century form of slavery that exists both here in the United States and across the globe. "There are 27 million people, mostly women and young children, who are enslaved in the world." They shared the shocking statistic that in the United States alone, a person is trafficked every ten minutes. 

Calling for Compassionate Action, they encouraged every person to become aware of their surroundings and look for signs of forced labor or exploitation. If you see something suspicious or someone being coerced, there is a hotline number that can be called anonymously: 1-888-373.7888. In January of 2010, President Barack Obama urged all Americans to become educated on the signs and consequences of Human Trafficking. It is our moral and civil responsibility.  The Frederick Douglas Family Foundation has a HISTORY, HUMAN RIGHTS, POWER OF ONE curriculum on 21st century Modern Day Slavery: www. fdff.org

A VERY SPECIAL "THANK YOU" to John (Jay) Trelease for being a wonderful interviewer, concerned citizen, and active Christian in the world today.

WFME CABLE TV

WFME-TV - Family Educational TV

CLICK HERE CABLE TV SHOW:

http://www.wfme.net/fm/pa/mp4/human_trafficking.mp4

WFME CABLE TV: Benedictine Academy

Sister Donna Jo,  Mrs.Michalski, Ariana and Dannah, Globe Changers,  spoke about the inherent dignity of every human being.  In the Church, we remember the Holy Innocents who were martyred during the time of the birth of our Lord Jesus. It is 2,000 years later and our young holy innocent children are still being martyred emotionally and physically. We have a responsibility to speak out and do something to eradicate this gross injustice to our sisters and brothers.

The ministry of WFME-TV broadcasts Christ-centered programming to the tri-state region and Philadelphia, PA. Benedictine Academy is proud to be a Faith-based school that teaches our young women how to become empowered to make our world a better place. We believe we have a shared mission to uphold the peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ in the world today. If not us, then who?

Educational Material is available through the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation on HISTORY, HUMAN RIGHTS , POWER OF ONE curriculum on 21st century Modern Day Slavery. www. fdff.org
A VERY SPECIAL "THANK YOU" to John (Jay) Trelease for being a wonderful interviewer, concerned citizen, and active Christian in the world today. 

Gandhi once said that he would become Gandhi once said that

 he would become a Christian when he saw a Christian acting like a Christian.

That would be the day he would meet John Trelease!

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of justice.  He once said, "Everybody can be great because anybody can serve... you only need a heart full of grace; a soul generated by love."  He reminds each of us that we are called to greatness by caring for our brothers and sisters.  That is his dream.  The African American Club reflects on his dream yesterday with their dream today for our world.

The most persistent and urgent question before us, says Martin Luther King Jr, is "What are you doing for others?"   Today.  Now.  The Students In Action Team has joined forces with the African American Club to take action.  During Catholic Schools Week, they have organized a DROP AND SERVE TODAY for the entire school community.  At Benedictine Academy our happiness lies in living for a higher reason - the reason of knowing, loving and serving the Lord!

SIA WINTER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

It was an amazing day as our students headed for Rutgers University Conference Center to participate in the SIA Leadership Conference.  There were nine other high schools in the Northern New Jersey vicinity coming together to share, learn from and inspire each other with their stories of service to the local communities.

The workshops included such topics as communication, leadership, and public relations.

 Our SIA Leaders presented a talk on the seven principles of starting a movement.  They concluded with a surprise visit via Skype from Kenneth Morris, Jr., the great great great grandson of Frederick Douglass, known as the Father of Civil Rights.

As our "thank you", we had invited all the attendees to bring a pair of used shoes for Soles for Souls and/or a donation to the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation.  One pair of shoes by one person does not seem to make much of an impact, but through the Power of WE, there can be dozens and dozens of shoes to help those children who have none.  And the movement, we hope, is that the students go back to their schools, as they did with Charity Water, to collect more shoes and raise awareness among the other students.  

SPREADING HEARTBEATS OF LOVE

You never know when God is calling you to deliver a little happiness!  We heard that Ericka's mom works as a life coach for people with severe emotional and mental struggles in the Morristown area.  Often, they most need a listening ear from a loving heart to give them faith and hope.  Our Campus Ministry JTB Club had just what the doctor ordered - over a half dozen heart pillows to donate.  Benedictine comes from the Latin word, benedictus, which means "to bless - to make happy!"

GOOD EGG AWARD!

Globe Changers introduced a new component to their Delivering Happiness Movement - THE GOOD EGG AWARD!  They are on the lookout for students who are acting with extraordinary compassion and kindness and when they least expect it... WOW! They receive the Good Egg Award.  Unlike the Students In Action Award, this award is received quietly and discreetly to honor the privacy of the recipient of their kindness.  As Mother Teresa explains in her "DO IT ANYWAY PRAYER", in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

1. The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

National Human Trafficking PREVENTION Day

President Barack Obama recently said in a speech declaring January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, "We as a country recommit to bringing an end to this inexcusable human rights abuse." 

 In response to this directive, we gathered as a school community and the Globe Changers spoke about the continued gross violation of human rights against our brothers and sisters in America and across the globe.  Students were invited to take a pledge and make a donation to help raise awareness and stop this modern day form of slavery.  WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND MEN ARE "NOT FOR SALE"!

Ariana reflects, "I thought that Abraham Lincoln Abolished slavery in 1860.  I’ve realized that it’s the job of our generation to Re-Abolish slavery. It is very real."

Something you can do? Post the UN Blue Heart on your Facebook, blog, or twitter, to show your support in the Anti-Slavery movement =) It is meant to represent the sadness of the victims and the coldness of the offenders.

unodc.org/blueheart.  You can also check out fdff.org (Frederick Douglass Family Foundation)! Both are great resources."

See something suspicious?  Call NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE # 1-888-3737-888

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY!

This First Friday of the New Year, we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus at Eucharist with the entire school community.  Father Tom Provenzano of St. Anthony Parish was our wonderful celebrant at the St. Walburga Monastery, the sacred home of our Benedictine Sisters.


Our Gospel Choir was full of the Spirit as they led us in praise and worship.  Epiphany means vision of God.  God reveals himself through the incarnation of Jesus.


It is a true blessing to our Benedictine Academy school community to be able to ring in the new year with God's blessing.   Prayer and Eucharist are the cornerstones of our faith based family.  

Our Blessing for your Home:   20+Caspar, Melchior, Balthazar+12

Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only begotten Son 

to every nation by the guidance of a star. 

Bless this house and all who inhabit it. 

May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, 

gentleness and the keeping of your law. 

Fill us with the light of Christ, 

that our love for each other may go out to all. 

 We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.