“Each of us is a missionary in our schools, our families, our communities,” asserted Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Bernadette Thomas in Holy Cross Academy, Delran, Oct. 16 during the High School Mission Reach-Out.

About 100 representatives from Catholic secondary schools in the Diocese participated in the annual event, learning about evangelization from missionary priests who had preached the Catholic faith across the globe.

Father Thomas Vellappallil of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette, St. Louis, spoke about his youth in a large Catholic family from India where an overwhelming majority of the population does not share the faith.

“In India, 81 percent of the population is Hindu. Of about a billion people, only 2.9 percent are Christians,” he informed the students seated before him. Sharing how his love of the Blessed Virgin Mary led to his ordination and service as a missionary for the St. Louis-based order, Father Vellappallil reminded the students, “We are one human family, no matter where we come from. We are all born broken, but Jesus is the glue to put us back together again.”

Father Vellappallil described his recent trip to Madagascar, stressing that people’s faith has survived despite economic hardships. He reminded the students of the importance of prayer for all missionaries, stating, “There are lots of places in our world today that depend upon others’ help. We are so very blessed. We are making a difference to so many.”

Divine Word Father Vincent Burke of Bordentown shared reflections with the students about his 53 years of missionary service, most of it spent in Ghana. Standing before an altar adorned with hand-woven kente, a native African ceremonial cloth, and wearing a brightly-colored cassock given to him by his Ghanaian students, the priest taught the students a song and dance he had learned when he began his service as the principal of a Catholic high school for boys in the African nation.

“Jesus loves me and loves you also,” the priest sang in the Ghana language Akan, tinged with the traces of a Boston accent. Later, encouraging the students to become missionaries to the faith no matter where they lived, he recalled his own service and admitted frankly, “There were challenges, some good days and not so good days as a missionary, but it’s the same in any kind of life, even marriage.”

Father Peter James Alindogan, director of the diocesan Pontifical Mission Aid Society, recognized two high schools for their contributions to mission collections over the past 2013-14 school year. The students of Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, donated funds in the amount of $2.38 per capita, while Holy Cross Academy, Delran, students were responsible for a total of $2.73 per capita for the same period.

Father Alindogan recognized Father Vellappallil for his outstanding participation in mission endeavors with the presentation of the Msgr. Richard Tofani Memorial Service Award.

Students later reflected on their role as missionaries to the faith.  Julia Sowa, a junior in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, noted, “I learned how easy it is to help others on a day-to-day basis. You can be a missionary with simple things.”

The reach-out was the first time Holy Cross Academy freshman Marina McLaughlin had prayed with a multi-colored Mission Rosary; she later noted, “I think you get more out of [praying] this way. I can see how it helps others.”

Mission Club moderator and teacher Teresa Moynahan sat at a table of 10 Trenton Catholic Academy student members and related the Hamilton upper school’s history of home-grown service. “We have had Rotary and Interact Clubs, but the Mission Club is new this year. Next year, we’ll win one of the awards,” Moynahan predicted.