SAN ANTONIO – On a sunny Saturday, over 500 volunteers from St. Mary’s University took to the streets of San Antonio, dedicating their time and efforts to community service. This spirited event marked the beginning of the academic year and is part of a cherished tradition known as Continuing the Heritage Day of Service, which has been celebrated for 30 years.
With a collective goal of completing 2,000 hours of service, the volunteers engaged with four local organizations: Towne Twin Village, Family Service-Presa Community Center, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and St. Stephen’s CARE Center. Their efforts contributed significantly to the well-being of these organizations and the communities they serve.
At Towne Twin Village, volunteers worked diligently to enhance the community’s meditation garden, an endeavor that was met with gratitude. Mark Wittig, the president of Towne Twin Village, expressed the impact of the volunteers’ work, stating, “It makes a big difference.”
For many students, this day was not only about giving back but also about forming connections. Sophomore Magdalena Loza remarked, “I feel like there is no other thing that you can do on a Saturday than provide for your community.”
Sophomore Anthony McMorrough echoed this sentiment, highlighting the event as a unique opportunity for students to bond and learn about various nonprofits they might not have known existed. “It brings a lot of people together at the university,” he said.
The service day aligns with an ambitious initiative set by St. Mary’s University, aiming for a total of 10,000 community service hours by the end of the academic year, a goal inspired by the university’s recent engagement with Pope Leo XIV. University President Winston Erevelles explained, “You can see our shirts. They say 10,000 hours for Pope Leo XIV. We’re giving of our talent, our hearts, our hands, and this is all giving to Pope Leo.”
This initiative was sparked by Erevelles’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Rome over the summer, which inspired the university to stretch its community engagement efforts. “This is just when we’re going to go all out,” he stated. “Saying, let’s stretch ourselves, let’s do more. There’s so much need in the community.”
By the end of Saturday’s volunteer efforts, St. Mary’s University had successfully achieved approximately 20% of its ambitious 10,000-hour service goal for the academic year, showcasing a powerful commitment to community service and the spirit of giving.
