Journey of justice

Youth challenged to carry on the mission of justice

By Kristin Stawiarski
January/February 2008

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article

On a battered mountainside, an image of unimaginable poverty is painted. Simple houses made of aluminum and wood. A mother washing her infant in a dirty stream. Amid this scene, a child's laugh rings out through the mountaintops as she sees a truck of eager volunteers pull up to her crumbling house. Today marks the first building day of her new home.

St. Mary's student Matt Kavanaugh meets Fr. Lou Quinn when the group arrives in Ocoa to participate in the 2007 D.R.E.A.M.S. project. Fr. Lou met with the students three times during their week-long stay.

For many years, this village of Rifle de la Horma in the Dominican Republic has been the epicentre of a number of international missionary outreach programs. One such program is the D.R.E.A.M.S. (Dominican Republic Education and Medical Support) project that began at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario. Since its inception in 1999, more than 300 St. Mary's students and volunteers have been sent to the impoverished area. Working with the community, volunteers with the D.R.E.A.M.S. project have so far built one school and 30 homes here.

This wildfire of service began with a single spark, Fr. Louis Quinn, a Scarboro missionary priest who embarked on a journey of justice, sowing the seeds of hope in this part of the world. In his 42 years of dedicated work, Fr. Quinn was able to improve the quality of life of the people.

Although the sands of time began to diminish his health, Fr. Quinn's enduring spirit remained committed to the Dominican people and to all those who worked in support of this campaign of hope. On many occasions Fr. Quinn was seen arriving at a worksite in the mountains, hours from his rectory in the municipality of San José de Ocoa, to spend a few precious moments with the Canadian youth volunteers. A number of these visits were made during times when he was overwhelmed with personal health struggles. Fr. Quinn truly believed in the importance of steering youth towards God through a life committed to serving all God's people. Fr. Quinn will remain one of the great role models for youth today.

It is because of Fr. Lou's positive outlook on life that I felt truly blessed when I met him and shook his hand. Because of him each D.R.E.A.M.S. student is able to look into the eyes of a smiling child in the Dominican Republic. It is because of him that I got the experience of a lifetime. It is because of him that the people of the Dominican Republic have hope.

Kat Cullen, St. Mary's graduate and 2007 D.R.E.A.M.S. participant

We cannot say that we walk with Christ until we walk hand in hand with our brothers and sisters who are without the necessities of life. For it is among the poor that the Spirit of Christ dwells and waits to fill the hearts of all those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Fr. Quinn set out on a mission of God, but now it is our turn to carry forth his journey of justice and make a difference.

Kristin Stawiarski, a 2006 D.R.E.A.M.S. volunteer, is a second year student in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

Two young Ocoans happily anticipate playing with new toys received from Kristin and other student volunteers.

A job well done. D.R.E.A.M.S. participants of St. Mary's high school in Hamilton, Ontario, with co mmunity members in front of a new home they built in El Rifle, San José de Ocoa, Dominican Rep ublic. Kristin Stawiarski holds a copy of her hometown newspaper, the Ancaster News.

St. Mary's D.R.E.A.M.S. would never exist without the vision and commitment of Fr. Lou Quinn. Fr. Lou was a beacon of hope and a bridge between the rich and the poor and between the North and the South.

Fifty-five Grade 11-12 students at St. Mary's have applied for its 2008 D.R.E.A.M.S. project of building homes in the San José de Ocoa region of the Dominican Republic. Our students continually overwhelm me with their goodness and desire to make a difference as demonstrated in their Halloween for Hunger and Thanksgiving Day Food Drives last fall and their participation in the school board-wide Pilgrimage Walk With Christ that raised $70,000 for the Dominican mission, St. Joseph's orphanage in Haiti and a technical school in Uganda. As well, they have been collecting warm clothing and blankets for the homeless in our local community.

Don Hall, Chaplain, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Hamilton, Ontario

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article