People, Places, Things

Faith formation classes at Our Lady of the Fields, Millersville, collected 405 boxes of cereal for Catholic Charities’ Our Daily Bread Employment Center in the parish’s annual Cereal Election. Contributors vote by donating a favorite cereal; 100 of those boxes were collected by the children in Mary O’Malley’s family, whose late husband, Michael O’Malley, was instrumental in starting an outreach program years ago as a middle school faith formation teacher.

Mr. O’Malley’s class made casseroles for Our Daily Bread – a parish tradition continuing today; the cereal drive is held in his memory. His wife delivers the casseroles and the cereal boxes.

“Upon seeing a cover of The Catholic Review with empty shelves,” said Donna Fischer, coordinator of children’s faith formation, “Mary’s dedication to the project couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Students at The Seton Keough High School, Baltimore, spent two days honoring the deceased as Spanish classes celebrated the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Oct. 31. Each girl created a special plate with the photo of a deceased loved one and prayed in Spanish for them; the plates were placed outside the chapel near an Altar de Muertos created for the event.

The tradition of All Souls Day continued Nov. 3 as students placed hand-painted memorial rocks in the school’s Memorial Rock Garden with names of their loved ones. The garden was created by the late campus minister Kathy Bowen who died in 2007.

Second- and third-grade Girl Scout Brownies from Mother Seton School, Emmitsburg, hosted a pet care event at the Catoctin Veterinary Clinic Oct. 17. Girl Scouts were invited to attend a behind-the-scenes tour led by one of the veterinarians. The girls collected donations of pet food and supplies to be given to the Thurmont Food Bank, which regularly requests pet food.

Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson, reports these student honors: senior Christine O’Keefe was recognized as one of 16,000 outstanding National Merit Scholarship Program semi-finalists … senior Courtney Plummer was recognized as one of 3,100 outstanding National Achievement Scholarship Program participants being referred to U.S. colleges and universities … 53 NDP students have earned the distinction of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement examinations … 36 NDP seniors have received honors in the Maryland Distinguished Scholars program… and 11 seniors were named Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

An essay written by Cameron Beattie, a senior at Loyola College in Maryland will be published in a book, “Powder: Writing by Women in the Ranks, from Vietnam to Iraq.” The anthology includes poetry and personal essays from 19 women who have served in the U.S. military.

Ms. Beattie’s essay chronicles her first airplane jump in Army Basic Airborne School. She is an English and writing interdisciplinary major and a Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) member at Loyola.

Professionals from corporate client organizations who participate with Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Baltimore, by employing their students, had the opportunity during the week of Oct. 20 to “shadow” at the school, spending the morning in class with their student employees and eating lunch together.

The week included a professional development seminar called “How to Motivate Your Teenage Worker!” led by human resources consultant Brooke Ingram, who provided practical management tips.

Employers participated in the shadow days to better understand and utilize their Cristo Rey employees.

St. Joseph, Cockeysville, celebrated a Family Night for Vocations Nov. 1. Students were invited to write essays and draw pictures pertaining to either vocations or their favorite saints. The Knights of Columbus awarded prizes to these students for their winning essays and art: Liam O’Hara, Mary Katherine Weigman, Sophia Hagan, Kevin Barnes, and Dennis Dimaio.