Five recent graduates of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Portland will spend time in Chile and Uganda as part of the Holy Cross Mission Center’s Overseas Lay Ministry program.
The U.S. Province’s Holy Cross Mission Center supports the international mission work of the worldwide efforts of the Congregation of Holy Cross, spanning 16 countries on five continents. But it also directly supports those international locations for which the U.S. Province has direct jurisdiction, and those countries with which the U.S. Province has a special relationship.
The OLM program offers recent college graduates a chance to serve side by side with Holy Cross as “educators in the faith.” True to Blessed Moreau’s vision, the OLM program engages young lay collaborators in Holy Cross’ ministries of education, parish and mission conducting outreach to the poor across all borders. During the 16-17 month program, OLMs teach English, math, science, economics, computers and geography in Holy Cross primary or secondary schools. They also teach music lessons or help coach the schools’ sports teams. They work at the Holy Cross parishes, health care or other social service ministries. The three pillars of the Overseas Lay Ministry are prayer, mission and community.
This year’s students are:
- Colin King, 22, of Geneva, Ill., graduated from Notre Dame last spring with a degree in business administration and theology. A former participant in Bengal Bouts, Colin left on July 19 to teach at the schools of Holy Cross Parish in Jinja, Uganda.
- Leo DiPiero, 22, of Steubenville, Ohio, graduated with a degree in liberal studies from Notre Dame. He participated in the Bengal Bouts and travelled to Bangladesh to visit Holy Cross ministries there. Leo will also teach in Jinja.
- Madeline “Maddie” Justin, 22, graduated this spring from University of Portland with a degree in sociology. She hails from Faribault, Minn., and also will be teaching in Jinja.
- Veronicca Solis, 22, is a spring graduate of Portland with a degree in theology. The Centennial, Colo., resident left July 31 to teach at Our Lady of Andacollo Parish school in Santiago, Chile. She has applied to ND’s M.Div. program.
- Mary Jeanne Brenholts, 22, graduated from Notre Dame this spring with a degree in anthropology and Spanish. She is from Mountain Top, Pa., and traveled to Santiago as well to teach.
The students in Uganda will return in December 2014. The students in Chile will return in January 2015.
Application process for the 2014 year begins Nov. 11, 2013. To learn more about the Overseas Lay Ministry program and the application process, please visit the OLM section of our website.
