New Rochelle: Salesian High Jubilee Year Pilgrimage

By Fr. Jim Heuser, SDB, President, Salesian High School

(New Rochelle, NY – May 14) – Prompted by the Jubilee Year 2025 called by the late Pope Francis with the theme of “Hope,” Salesian High School has sought to live the 2024-2025 school year as “Pilgrims of Hope.” We have tried to anchor ourselves in the love of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, while being ambassadors of hope to others who are in need.

In October, we held Days of Service, during which the entire school had the opportunity to go into surrounding neighborhoods and do manual labor with the Fuller Center for Housing, assisting in building projects related to housing and other structures.

Our November Food Drive, led by the student council, brought hope to the hungry, as we collected over 12,000 food items and replenished several local food pantries. Our youth ministry office led a very successful toy drive in December, which brought hope to numerous children from needy families.

January saw the National Honor Society collect blankets and warm clothing to bring hope to the homeless and indigent. In February, each homeroom purchased gifts to bring hope to the sick and their families at Blythedale Children’s Hospital. And in March funds were raised through a variety of creative projects to send recovery magazines into prisons to bring hope to the incarcerated.

Our school year as Pilgrims of Hope culminated on Friday, May 9, with a pilgrimage walk to Blessed Sacrament Church in New Rochelle. We were soaked by the rain, but spirits were not dampened as students and faculty supported and encouraged each other. Once at the church, we prayed at three stations: the doors, the baptismal font, and Mary’s shrine.

Then Bishop John Bonnici presided at our Mass for the Holy Year. Bishop John commended our determination while exhorting us to continue to be missionaries of hope in the spirit of Don Bosco and Carlo Acutis. Upon returning to campus, students and faculty shared an indoor barbecue lunch and a variety of fun games, while enjoying desserts provided by two ice cream trucks.

The day concluded with a Good Night from Fr. Mike Conway, director, reflecting on the great hunger for hope in the world today and reminding us to share it generously.