THE NETWORK Marian High School - 7400 Military Avenue Omaha, NE 68134 - www.marianhighschool.net - Volume 62 Issue 1 - August 2017
Growing in Faith in Winnebago juliahingorani
Most teenagers’ summers consist of hanging out at the pool or meeting up with friends, not kneeling down in the dirt to pull weeds. However, five Marian students did exactly this and more on the Winnebago Reservation. From July 23 to 29, these girls were immersed in the Winnebago culture. This was an enlightening opportunity for students to grow in their faith and see firsthand how their volunNeighbors in Action: Marian service volunteers joined with students across the nation to serve in the teer work can truly impact Young Winnebago community in July. The group assembled the teepee on the first day and took it down on the last day a community. of their experience. Junior Lauren Philips arms and gratitude. a new and humbling experience. The recalls what she gained “One way their culture is differpowwow demonstrated an unwavering from the Native Americans. “We ent is that their original language is sense of community. People from the learned about what has happened disappearing. It is hard to see your tribe wore vibrant colors and danced to their culture over time, a little bit past vanish when young people aren’t to native drums. The powwow was about their traditional foods and a lot keeping it alive,” junior Marin Waters about their values of family and faith,” a chance to celebrate their heritage, said. While Waters helped the combe loud about their pride and express Philips said. This trip was not only an munity, she took note of how different their spirituality. opportunity for students to serve their her day-to-day is compared to that of a Aside from discovering a new community, but also an eye-opener to culture, students stayed in a classroom Native American. what other cultures endure. Students looked back on this trip Learning about the Winnebago and in the grade school for their week of and realized that the distinct culture service and got to know the MissionOmaha tribal heritage even inspired of the Winnebago and Omaha tribes ary Benedictine Sisters who minister students to be proud of their own. had a lasting impact on them. Though at the St. Augustine Indian Mission. One of the ways the Winnebago tribe the general purpose of the trip was to Students bonded with the sisters by expressed their history was through serve a community and grow in their working in the garden, playing cards their powwow. individual faith, students took away and simply eating ice cream. The sisWhile the Native Americans gathmuch more. ters welcomed all students with open ered for their powwow, students had
Juniors Serve Together: Lauren Philips ‘19, Katherine Pelton ‘19, Mia McGrath ‘19 and Marin Waters ‘19 take time to show their bond. The fifth person on the mission trip was Grace Hahler ‘18. The girls had lots of fun growing closer with the Winnebago community, God and each other.
52.4 % of the 84 juniors and seniors who completed the Network Back-to-School survey participated in some type of service this summer.
Marian girls have DRive katekellen
In the third floor hallway of Marian, there is a mural on the wall that reads: “‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ - Mahatma Gandhi.” Twelve Marian girls found truth in this quotation when they traveled to the Dominican Republic this summer. From June 3 to 14, six seniors and six juniors embarked with teacher Ms. Halli Tripe and
Sister Lisa Sheridan through the Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC) program. This service trip allowed the students to be immersed in another culture and lifestyle. “I went into this trip unable to speak any Spanish, so it was a little intimidating to not be able to understand what anyone was saying. However, the language barrier didn’t prohibit me from being able to make connections
with the people,” senior Kylie Champion said. Even in a country with different customs and languages, relationships were still formed and students were able to develop a deeper understanding of their mission in the world. After this experience over the summer, Champion said she is determined that it will not be her last. “I already plan on going back during college!
Smiling Selfie: After a long day of painting the church, Audrey Yost ‘18 snaps a selfie with an 8-year-old girl who lived near the church. This was day seven of the 12 day adventure on the 2017 DR Mission Trip. photo by audreyyost
At this point, I’m only looking at schools that offer the same program, so I am able to return as an intern or student,” Champion said. The DR trip contained many moments of silliness and fun, along with the service of painting the local church and gathering space in the campo community of Arroyo Blanco. One of Champion’s favorite memories was dropping by the gym on their walk back from painting the church. “It was so fun being able to experience a Dominican workout; it involved a lot of jumping and dance moves,” Champion said. Service and immersion trips have the ability to transform the way a person views the world and their place in it. “The most fulfilling activity on the trip was definitely playing with the kids. It was so incredible to interact with them because, even though we live completely different lives from them, all they wanted was to have fun with us and get to know us,” Champion said. When students from the Marian community are able to travel the world and immerse themselves into a culture so completely different from their own, their faith, self image and world awareness grows.
Check out these fun stories on The Network’s website! mariandigitalnetwork.com
SUMMER PLAYLIST
SUMMER CAMP MEMORIES ADVICE FROM SENIOR EDITORS SHOW CHOIR RECAP
CAMPUS CLEANUP