It gives me great joy to write this letter and thank Brian O'Donoghue and Drew Gawrych, along with all in Student Government for their support of the Hogares San Jose and Santa Cruz in Chile. Their efforts to raise our awareness of this most worthy apostolate of the Congregation of Holy Cross is commendable.

After having spent over a month living at the orphanage San Jose in Talagante, I know first hand the great work that goes on there. I also know how much the Hogar struggles to maintain and improve its services. Father Don, Brother Matteo, and Brother Donald work tirelessly, and I know that this opportunity for us to help them will be greatly appreciated.

I also know how much the kids appreciate having a special connection to the "gringos" at Notre Dame. For them to know that we have made an effort to care about them, even if it is just through a small donation of money or ND gear, is a special treat. I can already picture the smiles on their faces as they puzzle over why a bunch of Americans would care about them. They are living witnesses to Mother Theresa's admonition that we must protect innocent life for "we can never have too many children. That's like saying there are too many flowers."

Christ and the Church instruct us to give alms. Almsgiving is not just a handout, rather it is an act of "caritas" and a mortification that helps lead us to holiness. We are blessed with much here at ND and I encourage, better, I challenge you to give up a Thursday night at Heartland or Friday at Movies 14 and offer that money to the Hogares San Jose and Santa Cruz. It will do your soul some good.

Bravo Odie and Student Government for this most most blessed opportunity. Our Lady is certainly proud.

Stephen R. Sanchez

senior

February 1, 2001

• Sorting out the real `divas'
  
• Meeting a martyr
  
• Aiding missions in Chile
  
• Building a tradition
  
• Worshipping with wheat
  
• Quote of the Day