Holy Cross Students to Participate in Day of Service

WORCESTER, Mass. – "Bridges," a day of service for first-year students at Holy Cross, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 1 p.m.-4 p.m., at nine Worcester Public Schools. The program is an opportunity for first-year students to form bonds with their peers outside of the classroom setting while serving the greater Worcester community.

Incoming students take part in a three-tiered orientation program, including the summer ("Gateways") and fall orientation activities. "Bridges," one component of the extended orientation program, offers first-year students the opportunity to perform community service projects such as raking, cleaning and painting at Burncoat Prep, Doherty High, Greendale, Elm Park Community, Columbus Park, Worcester East Middle, Sullivan Middle, South High Community and Chandler Magnet schools.

"Bridges" introduces students to the Jesuit concept of "men and women for others" by encouraging them to make real the words of former Superior General Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. In this way, the orientation program serves to form a "bridge" between first-year students and the Worcester community.

According to Ally Blais '01 and Kara Lamb '01, head orientation leaders, the "Gateways" summer and fall orientation programs transitions first-year students into the Holy Cross community. "This program provides first-year students with another opportunity to meet other members of their class, but more importantly, it introduces them to the College's commitment to service outside the gates of Holy Cross in the greater Worcester community."