The Catholic Schools of Zanesville feel that it is important to support life in all of its stages. Campus ministries is making a conscious effort to support life by participating in the Corporal Works of Mercy. (Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the imprisoned, visit the sick, bury the dead).
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus states to his listeners, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for the least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Campus ministries tries to provide tangible service projects that will reflect our Catholic beliefs and values.
Over the last four years, Bishop Fenwick School and Bishop Rosecrans High School have joined forces to collect items that will be available for families at Heartbeats, a pro-life women’s center in Zanesville.
The list of items has changed over the years in order to meet Heartbeats’ needs. In the past four years, the Catholic school community has collected over 8,000 wipes and over 7,000 diapers. Baby wash, lotion and cream were also gathered and well as over 100 wash clothes/towel sets.
Safety items, such as thermometers, safety latches and outlet plugs have also been donated. In addition, nail clippers, bottles, sippy cups, teething toys and pacifiers were collected.
Almost 100 sets of clothing have been donated. Looking at the selection and variety, it is obvious that some of the donors really got into buying baby clothes.
The staff of both schools have collected almost 50 blankets over the last four years. This year, Catholic Social Services, with assistance from program director Sarah Clark, donated 10 diaper bags.
Linda Dady, the director of Heartbeats, has helped immensely with establishing the list of items.
This year, Junior Girl Scout Troop 8216 will help deliver the items to Heartbeats. Troop 8216 is led by Gail Murrell and Ashley Jones, who are also administrators at Bishop Fenwick.
After the donations were collected, the girls were interviewed by WHIZ-TV and then toured the Heartbeat facility in Zanesville.
Jonathan Medaugh, campus ministries director, spearheads the annual collection.
In 2022, Bishop Earl Fernandes stated, “The Diocese will continue to work to nurture Ohio families and will continue to accept the responsibility of supporting mothers and their children, and to fight for the right to Life for every human, born and unborn.”
Bishop Fenwick Catholic School and Bishop Rosecrans High School are working diligently to create a culture of life at the schools by accepting Bishop Fernandes’ challenge to take responsibility for supporting mothers and their children.