EDUCATING HEARTS AND MINDS

By Evan Mao ’19 | March 2023

Growing up in Union City, California, I drove down Mission Boulevard every weekday. In the middle of the drive there emerged high trees on the side of the road, outlining a tan building right between them. In front of that building was an electronic sign that read, “Moreau Catholic High School,” and on the building behind it was a striking symbol: a cross intertwined with an anchor. At that time, I had no idea what it was or what it meant, but it was something I looked at each passing day. Today, that symbol means so much more: that symbol represents the community that has blessed me with the experience of a lifetime, an experience that has not only educated my mind, but my heart as well.

My Holy Cross journey began in August 2015 as a freshman at Moreau Catholic High School. As I was educated in the classroom, I was carefully formed as a person as well. Moreau Catholic encourages its students to be the change they wish to see in the world, and that truly resonated with me. Whether it was outreach to St. Anthony’s soup kitchen, serving at funerals and other special Masses, coaching CYO, or mentoring the next generation to be stewards of the environment through wildlife education and environmental conservation at Sulphur Creek Nature Center, Moreau Catholic showed me the value of giving back to the community. By cultivating the heart and developing the mind through rigorous study, Holy Cross education contributes to making a better world for tomorrow.

Moreau Catholic was only the beginning of my Holy Cross journey, as St. Edward’s University has shown me a whole new world of opportunities for spiritual growth and fulfillment, and in particular what it means to educate the heart along with the mind. Two of the most profound moments of my life occurred during my Campus Ministry Service Break Experiences. My first Service Break Experience was in Puerto Rico, where I volunteered alongside a group of Hilltoppers on a one week mission to restore homes destroyed by Hurricane Maria. We shed sweat, tears, and even blood in the recovery efforts, laboring in the intense humidity and heat to power wash, scrape and paint for over ten hours a day. The tears of joy that erupted from the families who came back to their restored homes is a humbling moment that I will never forget. My second Service Break Experience was in Phoenix, Arizona, where I led the group that visited André House, a Holy Cross ministry for those experiencing homelessness. We spent each day doing a multitude of tasks and chores, including kitchen work, giving showers, providing clothing, and just sharing conversation with those who came for comfort. I met many different people, shared stories, and made permanent memories in my mind and my heart.

Today, I hold the words of Basil Moreau in my heart: “With eyes of faith consider the greatness of your mission and the wonderful amount of good which you can accomplish.” A Holy Cross education has given me the opportunity to flourish academically, emotionally, and spiritually. A Holy Cross education has allowed me to travel the world, interact and build relationships with amazing and hard-working people, and discover what nourishes my soul and helps me find happiness. When I visit home and drive on Mission Boulevard now, I look at the large Holy Cross seal on the side of Moreau Catholic High School with pride. It’s no longer a mystery to me, but a trusted symbol of faith, love, and hope for all the best possibilities that we can achieve.