On Tuesday night, Saint Mary’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a holiday letter writing event. Students gathered in the basement of Le Mans Hall to write Christmas cards to the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
In the Le Mans basement kitchen, there was apple cider, Rise’n Roll powdered doughnuts, Christmas letter stationery and Christmas music. Students sat together on barstools around the counter to write their letters.
Emily O’Donoghue, a senior at Saint Mary’s, and Ivory Muñoz, a sophomore, were the SGA members supervising the event.
O’Donoghue said the event was jointly hosted by the mission division and academic liaison of SGA.
“We decided to partner with academic liaison to write letters for the Sisters of the Holy Cross so that they are getting a connection between the students at Saint Mary’s and the Sisters who do so much for our college community,” she said.
O’Donoghue said the Sisters not only sponsor the College but actually form relationships with some of the students.
She also shared her personal experience with some of the Sisters.
“I’ve met two wonderful Sisters, Sister Kathy and Sister Helene, in the past year or two, and they’re awesome” she said.
O’Donoghue said some of the Sisters can be seen at times around campus supporting events.
“They come to the pop-up which is hosted by our ecumenical chaplain, Pastor Carrie. So I was able to meet them at the pop-up and I realized that I really just wanted to do more for them because they do so much for us,” she said.
Senior Hannah Chartier said she happened upon the letter writing event on her way to dinner.
“I was just going to the dining hall using our amazing tunnels. I wasn’t sure if I had time, but I realized it’s really important to take time and really put our thoughts into words about how much we care about the Sisters,” Chartier said.
Another student in attendance was senior Zuzu Vidourek, who wrote a poem and drew a winter scene of snowmen on her letter to the Sisters.
Vidourek learned about the event through her friends.
“It’s important to write letters to the Sisters to give back to the community,“ she said.
Vidourek said she rarely sees the Sisters so she thought it would be a “good step” to take part in the letter-writing event.
Chartier shared that when she was a prospective student, she heard from alumnae who shared stories of interacting with the Sisters often during their time as Saint Mary’s students.
“And then when I got here it was during the pandemic so I never met them. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it [the letters] because we love them and they love us,” Chartier said.
O’Donoghue explained not only was this event for the Sisters, but also for the students as a break from finals preparation.
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