The Malden Catholic courtyard did not always have its current look.  For one thing, it was larger.  It covered some of the territory now occupied by the Girls Learning Commons and the Girls entrance corridor.  For another, a couple of large trees dotted its landscape, and dense shrubbery and flower beds lined intersecting walkways that led to a patio with wrought-iron furniture in the back-right corner.  There, some of the 30 Xaverian Brothers in residence through the ’70s and ’80s, might have had a cookout, smoked a pipe, read a newspaper, or prayed the rosary. Over the years, the courtyard has served many purposes, hosting alumni reunions, parent cocktail parties, freshman orientations, team blessings, prayer services, and post-commencement photography.  But it was not until this past weekend that it served as a bedroom!

 

Last Saturday morning, as a gray, misty, 46-degree dawn broke over Malden Catholic, 2 dauntless teachers (Mrs. Lauren Connolly and Mr. Michael Driscoll) and 33 sophomores, juniors, and seniors – almost equally divided among boys and girls – huddled in sleeping bags strewn across the courtyard ground.  They had spent the night, participants in the first MC Covenant House Club Sleep Out.  They did not need much enticement to wake up, come inside, and warm up with some hot chocolate and a pancake breakfast that my sidekick, Brother Tim Hoey, and I had prepared. 

 

As Mrs. Connolly had explained to them the night before, the purpose of the Sleep Out, besides the $3500 the students had raised for Covenant House through sponsorship or personal donation, was not to simulate homelessness.  One night of roughing it -- with the prospect of returning to their somewhat predictable lives as students who expected safety, a good meal, hot shower, and warm bed the next night – would not simulate homelessness.  But it would spark an awareness that might, somewhere down the road, inspire action: action for good.

 

I trust that during their 16 hours together, the students learned a bit, had a good time, and built some bonds of community.  We started at 5:00pm on Friday evening with a prayer service in chapel.  Ice-breakers and a pizza-and-chicken-fingers-supper followed.  Covenant Club co-presidents Scott Gage and Michaela Marchant then offered a presentation about Covenant House, a national organization in 34 cities, which provides shelter, food, and other resources for homeless, often trafficked, youth.  Students next laid out their sleeping bags in the courtyard, and Mrs. Connolly conducted a workshop in the cafeteria about homelessness.  During recreation time, from roughly 8:30pm – 10:00pm, the gym was busy with ping pong, cornhole, basketball, while some just “chilled” with conversation in the courtyard or card play in the cafeteria.  We wrapped up the evening with some very spirited karaoke.

 

Following Saturday morning’s breakfast, we closed our Sleep Out where we began – in the chapel. The reading that resonated – from the Gospel of Matthew (25:31-46)  –  " 'When, Lord, did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’   And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' " As a Malden Catholic community, we can be pleased that last weekend’s Sleep Out is just one of many ways our students are encouraged to recognize and be responsive to the needs of others.  Well done!

 

Brother Thomas Puccio, C.F.X., Ed.D., H’18