BEST OF THE WEEK
THANKSGIVING SPECIAL EDITION

Sharing St. Edward High School's spirit of generosity in honor of Thanksgiving Day.


LESSON OF THE WEEK
RYAN ASHDOWN'S "OPEN LETTER TO A SYRIAN REFUGEE"
The Book of Matthew recounts the time Jesus spent in the city of Jerusalem teaching about the importance of faith and serving the suffering.  When in the temple, "The blind and the lame approached him...and he cured them" (Matthew 21:14).  The youths in the temple cry out his praise leading Jesus to remind his followers of the Psalm "Out of he mouths of infants and nurslings you have brought forth praise" (21:16). 

This week at St. Edward, senior Ryan Ashdown's " Open Letter to a Syrian Refugee"  challenged the St. Edward community to think about how we are all called to serve the suffering today. Ryan's letter reminds the community to look at the world through compassionate eyes and to think about our call as Americans to serve the "tired, poor and huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." and, as Catholics to think of others before we think of ourselves.  There are many instances when students serve as the best teachers and at a time when we are specially called to give thanks and be grateful, Ryan Ashdown's thought-provoking letter is the St. Edward High School lesson of the week.  

TEACHER OF THE WEEK
MR. PATRICK CHROSNIAK '02 
Since joining the St. Edward Faculty in 2006, Mr. Patrick Chrosniak '02 has been a leader in the community teaching freshmen to think about others before they think of themselves.

Mr. Chrosniak effectively uses the service opportunities during the holiday season to teach our youngest students important lessons about leading a life in service to others.  "I like to remind students of the human dimension," said Mr. Chrosniak. "I don't know that it makes a motivational difference in regards to giving, but I think it's an important distinction to make.  Yes we're bringing in cans, but more importantly, we're bringing in meals for families."

Helping students to consider the shared human experience of the holiday season has indeed proven to be motivation as the freshman class, through the efforts of the students and teachers alike, led the entire community in food donations again this year.  Thank you, Mr. Chrosniak, for encouraging students to be servant leaders at this important time of year.

THE WOW FACTOR!
ST. EDWARD STUDENTS DO THEIR PART
TO FEED OTHERS AT THANKSGIVING 
It can be difficult to think beyond your individual experience and see the world through the eyes of another.  For most of the St. Edward community, Thanksgiving means copious amounts of food, football and time with family.  Two events on campus this week remind us, however, that is not the case for all families in Northeast Ohio. 

Every year St. Edward commits to serving our neighbors by donating food to the Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corporation to help those in need, and by cooking and serving a monthly Community Meal in the school cafeteria.  In preparation for the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, St. Edward donated nearly 25,000 food items to LCAC.  On Wednesday, alumni, parents and students prepared the traditional turkey with all of the fixings for the Community Meal, attended by more than 200 neighbors in need.

Thank you to the many members of the St. Edward Community who contribute to making both of these programs a success year after year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
MAY YOUR DAY BE FILLED WITH
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND A GRACIOUS SPIRIT