Staff and students from Holy Cross take part in the 'Save Our Prison Farms' Rally.

Regiopolis-Notre Dame and Holy Cross students and staff joined Margaret Atwood and 1000 others for the 'Save Our Prison Farms' Rally and March on Sunday, June 6th. After hearing speeches by Sr. Pauline Lally, Jeff Peters, Margaret Atwood and others at Sydenham St. United Church, they marched to the Correctional Service of Canada Regional Headquarters on King Street to post banners and a "Manifesto" from the citizens of Canada outlining people's reasons for opposing the federal government's plan to close the six (6) Prison Farms across Canada including the farm at Frontenac Institution here in Kingston. Pictured above are members of the Holy Cross contingent who came out to show their support for the continued existence of the farms. You can get involved by going to the following website: www.saveourprisonfarms.ca

Our Archbishop Brendan O’Brien joined the RND and Holy Cross groups for a picture on Parliament Hill.

An enthusiastic group of Holy Cross students, along with Staff Supervisors, Fr. Labelle and Mr. Chris Forster, bused up to Ottawa for the annual March for Life on Thursday, May 13^th, 2010. After hearing speeches from various Pro-Life Speakers, politicians, church leaders and people who have actually had abortions and who now speak out for life, we joined with Regiopolis-Notre Dame and 15,000 other Pro-Lifers for a silent march through the streets of downtown Ottawa. The March strengthened our resolve to speak out in support of human life from conception to natural death. Currently, Canada has no laws to regulate abortion which can be done at any time during a pregnancy. We learned how we can be involved in the ongoing efforts in Parliament to reintroduce legislation to protect the lives of the unborn and to help those affected by abortion.

Linda Huang and Hannah Finn seek assistance during the role playing session at the Youth Poverty Challenge Conference.

On Wednesday, April 7th students and staff from Holy Cross attended the Youth Poverty Challenge Conference held at Queen's University's Duncan McArthur Hall. Organized by the Kingston Community Roundtable on Poverty Reduction, this event gathered 115 students from Kingston area schools so that they could experience first-hand what it is like to be poor and to gain an understanding of some of the challenges that people face when they are seeking social assistance, food, medicine and shelter. More than 130 volunteers from churches, schools and social agencies together with 11 poverty 'experts' were on hand to guide the students through the role-playing and educational portion. At the end of the day, students spent time in small groups brainstorming ways we can help to end poverty in Kingston.

To see some of their suggestions as well pictures and interviews from the day go to the Poverty Challenge website at www.thepovertychallenge.org.

The 2010 K2K Jamaica Mission Group from Holy Cross and Regiopolis-Notre Dame as they prepare to board their plane back to Canada on March 21

Twelve students and five supervisors who took part in the K2K Jamaica Mission Trip and spent 12 days over the March Break volunteering in Jamaica. The group faced many challenges along the way including an extended drought which meant going without running water most days and putting up with hot, dry conditions in many of the areas which they visited. The team split into two smaller groups with one team going to Riverton City Basic School to paint rooms and work with young students and the other going to St. Margaret’s Primary School where they were assigned to work individually with students who needed help with reading, writing or arithmetic. The group also visited at St. Monica’s Home for Abandoned Elderly and persons with HIV/AIDS or Leprosy and spent some musically uplifting afternoons with the St. Patrick’s All-Stars Performing Arts Band. One of the highlights of this trip was the historic Twinning Mass which our group attended along with the Mission Group from Nicholson C.C. in Belleville. We were especially blessed to have our Archbishop Brendan O’Brien with us for this Mass and for the signing of an historic Twinning Agreement between our two Kingston Archdioceses.

Mrs. Kaye Bonvie from the St. Paul the Apostle C.W.L. presenting a cheque for $200.00 to Ben Locke and members of the 2010 Jamaica Mission Trip

Members of the 2010 Jamaica Service Learning Trip have been busy fund-raising for their trip over the past few weeks. They completed a very successful “Ja’Maica Your Christmas Merry” Raffle on January 6th, raising over $300.00;. Thanks to all those who donated prizes including Van Herpt Motors, The Ambassador Hotel & Convention Centre, Zycom Technology, Pizza Hut, the Investors Group, Mino’s Restaurant, Janice & Harvey Tremeer, and Staples. As well, the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Women’s League donated $200.00 to the cause.

The group of Holy Cross and Regi students will be travelling to Kingston, Jamaica during the 2010 March Break to volunteer at schools and agencies sponsored by St. Patrick's Foundation.

Students and staff from Holy Cross and Regiopolis-Notre Dame traveled to Toronto for their annual Street Retreat from November 1-17. While in Toronto, the group took part in a variety of volunteer activities that focused on the plight of the homeless, refugees, and people with HIV. They also volunteered at St. Felix Centre and St. Francis Table where they cleaned rooms and prepared and served food for their lunch programs. On Monday night the group did a Street Patrol where they went out onto the streets of Toronto to share lunches and friendly conversation with the homeless. Each of us saw the many ways God is present in those people that our society so often looks down on. And they also witnessed how Christ is working through the many people and agencies who are extending a helping hand to their brothers and sisters in need.

Congratulations to those students and staff who attended the International Day of Climate Change in Ottawa on Saturday, October 24th. You helped bring this important issue to the attention of our government. Let us continue to do all we can to reduce our carbon emissions and save the planet.

Archbishop O'Brien with the Holy Cross and RND students and staff on Parliament Hill for the 2009 March For Life Rally.

Over 10,000 people gathered on Parliament Hill on Thursday, May 14^th,2009 for the annual March for Life. Students and staff from Holy Cross and Regiopolis-Notre Dame C.H.S. traveled to Ottawa. They were part of this event which saw politicians, bishops, priests, religious and laity from across Canada gather together to speak out against abortion, an act which takes over 100,000 innocent lives every year in Canada. They heard speeches from people of all ages who spoke out for the sanctify of all life from conception to natural death. They first attended a pro-life Mass at St. Patrick's Basilica and then walked up to Parliament Hill for the Rally and the March for Life that followed. Archbishop Brendan O'Brien and many priest from the Archdiocese of Kingston joined the Crusaders and Panthers on the March which snaked through downtown Ottawa for hours in the pouring rain. Congratulations to our courageous Crusaders who spoke up for Life so well during this amazing event.