Southern Nebraska Register
Bishop Neumann
Students at Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo spent an evening washing windows at South Haven Living Center in Wahoo April 17.
This was the second year of the service event for campus ministry students, led by teachers Brandi Sladky and Taylor Schlautman and Gery Kenney, campus minister. Father Carson Kain, freshman religion teacher, was also able to attend.
Last year, the school was contacted by Anne Kenney, business office manager, and Sonya Ludvik, community coordinator at South Haven. They reached out to the school, asking for help washing the windows of the facility.
“It is a huge job and we were happy to help supply the ‘man power,’ Gery Kenney said. “We decided to organize our spiritual groups in the effort.”
Students who belong to Students for LIFE, Neumann FIRE, Men of JP2, and the Seton girls joined to help with the project. This year, even some junior high Bible study students volunteered. In all, about 35 students dedicated their time.
“It was cold and windy but our students didn’t complain,” Kenney said. “They just got to work and enjoyed the time together.”
She said the school has really tried to instill in students an attitude of serving others, through mission trips and the annual fall service day in the community.
“I have found our students find such joy in being of service to someone else,” she said. Thus, the activity has now evolved into an annual campus ministry spring service project.
She added that it directly aligns with South Haven’s mission, vision, and values of “family serving family.”
“Because our town is small, many of our students know the residents at South Haven,” she explained. “Some have grandparents that live there, other family members, or family friends. It is a great time for our students to not only give back to our community, but our time spent there gives them a chance to see and visit these relatives.”
She said the residents “light up” when they see the students outside cleaning. Some come to the windows to visit, or just stop for a moment to smile and wave.
After the cleaning was finished, students also took time to stop inside, and visit and pray with some of the residents.
“It is a beautiful time for both the residents and the students to be together.”
Kenney said Bishop Neumann hopes to continue this event each spring.
“The students provide a great service to South Haven Living Center, but have discovered that they receive much more in return,” she said. “It is a chance to learn the joy in giving. Something as small as washing windows has become a powerful tool to spread kindness and make a difference.”
South Haven provided pizza and drinks for the students, and Al Gruenes welcomed them to his home at the cottages of South Haven.
