2006 BREATH OF THE
SPIRIT AWARD
Donelle
Henderlong
St. Teresa of Avila, Valparaiso
Class of 2008
 >
Hear the story in MP3 format
(Studio time courtesy of Relevant Radio 1270 AM)
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PARTICIPANTS AT CYX 2005 HEARD A KEYNOTE TALK FROM AMBER
COFFMAN, A YOUNG LADY FROM BALTIMORE WHO STARTED A MINISTRY FOR
THE HOMELESS AT THE AGE OF 10. SHE TOLD THE TEENS THAT THEY
WEREN’T TOO YOUNG TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE’S LIFE.
ALMOST A MONTH LATER, ON MONDAY, AUGUST 29TH, HURRICANE KATRINA
MADE LANDFALL IN LOUISIANA. THE HURRICANE KILLED AN ESTIMATED
2-THOUSAND PEOPLE, AND LEFT TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE HOMELESS.
DONELLE HENDERLONG, A CYX PARTICIPANT FROM ST. TERESA OF AVILA,
LIKE ALL OF US, WATCHED THE DEVASTATING IMAGES ON TELEVISION.
THEN, SHE BEGAN TO WONDER HOW SHE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
DONELLE APPROACHED FATHER KEVIN MCCARTHY, THE CHAPLAIN OF ST.
TERESA, AND THE LEADER OF ITS FAITH COMMUNITY. SHE TOLD FATHER
KEVIN THAT SHE REMEMBERED WHAT AMBER HAD SAID AT CYX. OF ALL THE
IMAGES THAT DONELLE HAD SEEN, WHAT TOUCHED HER THE MOST WAS
SEEING THE SMALL CHILDREN IN NEED. SHE ASKED FATHER KEVIN IF
THERE WAS A WAY THAT THE ST. TERESA CHURCH COMMUNITY COULD WORK
TOGETHER TO COLLECT SUPPLIES AND TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE
GULF REGION.
AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE YOUTH MINISTRY OFFICE OF THE
ARCHDIOCESE OF HOUSTON HAD PUT OUT A CALL NATIONALLY THAT THEY
WERE IN NEED OF SUPPLIES TO ASSIST VICTIMS THAT HAD BEEN MOVED
TO THE HOUSTON ASTRODOME. FATHER KEVIN CALLED A MEETING OF
PARISHIONERS AFTER A PRAYER SERVICE FOR THE VICTIMS, AND WITHIN
A WEEK, THE BACK OF THE CHURCH BEGAN TO FILL WITH DIAPERS,
SOCKS, BABY BOTTLES, TOYS, STUFFED ANIMALS, AND OTHER ITEMS FOR
THE YOUNGEST VICTIMS OF KATRINA. WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, THE
COMMUNITY OF ST. TERESA HAD FILLED AN ENTIRE SEMI-TRUCK WITH DISASTER
AID.
IT WASN’T UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER COLLECTIONS OF SUPPLIES AND
MONEY IN CHURCHES AND TOWNS AROUND THE DIOCESE AND AROUND THE
COUNTRY. BUT THIS COLLECTION BEGAN WITH A CALL. DONELLE HEARD
THAT CALL AND KNEW SHE WASN’T TOO YOUNG TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
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Houston Astrodome,
September, 2005 |
St. Teresa fills with supplies for Gulf-region children |
Fr. Kevin McCarthy helps
load semi-trailer truck |
Donelle receives award,
July 30, 2006 |
Donelle with Bishop Melczek, July 30, 2006 |
BACK TO BREATH OF THE SPIRIT AWARD |
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