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On Thursday, October 16, St. Marguerite d’Youville Secondary School students and staff will celebrate the Feast Day of their patron saint, Marguerite d’Youville. But, this year, they will be doing it in an especially big way. Splitting into two shifts, the entire school population of over 2,100 students and 170 staff members will embark on a colourful and highly visible fundraising Walk-a-Thon. They will make the pilgrimage to St. Marguerite d’Youville Church to pray to celebrate Mass in the spirit of love and compassion which characterised the life of Marguerite d’Youville. After the Mass, students will walk back to the school to continue the celebrations with a barbeque.

The Leadership class, under the supervision of teacher Erin McPhee, has been working enthusiastically to carefully organize every detail of this great event. "They have really taken ownership and are determined to stage this event all on their own. It has been a great learning experience, and for many, a spiritual awakening", says McPhee.

The students have created the "H.Y.P.E." Campaign (Help Your People Everywhere), as a means of fundraising for local and international Catholic charities. After reviewing a number of charitable organizations, they decided that this year’s event will focus on two charities: Covenant House, which provides food, shelter, structure and opportunity to youth ages 16-24 in Toronto and Development and Peace in Haiti, which works to provide food, shelter and clean water for that country’s recent hurricane victims, as well as with ongoing assistance with poverty. With an overall goal of raising $21,000 for both charities, each student is encouraged to raise a minimum of $10 in pledges for the Walk-a-Thon. Individuals and classes who raise the most money will be awarded prizes.

Tim Yawney, principal of St. Marguerite d’Youville S.S., is very pleased to see the students emulating the compassion witnessed in the life of their revered patron saint. "As a means of immersing ourselves fully in celebrating St. Marguerite d’Youville’s lifetime of good works for those in need, our school community has made a concerted effort to fully experience this feast day in mind, body and soul. Money raised through pledges will be donated to Catholic charities to assist individuals in need. Our students, staff and parents should be proud of this moment in our school’s history, when we pause to celebrate Catholic education by praying together and focusing on helping the marginalized in our own society and beyond, just as Marguerite d’Youville did in the name of Jesus Christ."

With the background support of the school’s Chaplaincy Committee, McPhee’s Leadership students have displayed great initiative and ‘taken the ball and run with it’, says Vice Principal Genya Woloshyn. "They have lifted a page out of Marguerite’s life as they demonstrate a tremendous sense of responsibility, compassion and advocacy for those in need through this event", she says.

As the October 16 festivities approach, students and staff are inspired to put in to practice October’s Virtue of the Month – Compassion the virtue that served as the foundation of patron saint Marguerite d’Youville’s life of service.

St. Marguerite d’Youville Secondary School, one of the largest schools in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, with 2,100 students and 170 faculty and staff, is located at 10815 Dixie Road, Brampton.

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8:05 – 9:15 Walk

9:15 – 10:05 Mass

10:05 – 11:00 Walk

11:05 – 12:00 BBQ

12:05 – 1:20 Period 4

1:25 – 2:40 Period 5

8:00 – 9:30 Period 1

9:30 – 10:30 Walk

10:30 – 11:20 Mass

11:20 – 12:20 Walk

12:20 – 1:20 BBQ

1:25 – 2:40 Period 5