from Br. Dan Fenton, FSC Cathedral High School 1263 Bishops Road Los Angeles, CA 90012 USA
Dear Brothers, colleagues and friends,
It’s time again for me to introduce you to a wonderful set of young adults (college students) who have offered to spend their summer being of service to children in conflict with the law at the Bahay Pag-asa Youth Centers in the Philippines. Started about a dozen years ago, these Lasallian residential educational centers provide a formative, holistic and faith-filled alternative to youth detention for kids who have found themselves charged with a crime or removed from their home environment by social services. The residents of the Bahay Pag-asa Youth Centers come from backgrounds of poverty, much of it extreme. At the Bahay Pag-asa Youth Centers, they learn that they are sons of God and have talents that can be developed so that their future is one that will make them good citizens and helpful members of their families. I want to let this year’s volunteers introduce themselves to you.
1. Hermes Ruiz, Loras College (graduate of San Miguel High School, Tucson)
My name is Hermes Ruiz and I am currently attending school at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. In the picture I have attached, it is me and our mascot Dewey the Duhawk. I am double majoring in math and chemistry and love to answer any questions people have on these two subjects. With these two majors I am planning to pursue a career as a college professor since I love to teach these two subjects.
When I was in high school a few months ago, I attended a Lasallian high school called San Miguel in Tucson, Arizona, United States, and it was one of the best experiences ever. When I was there I met Brother Dan Fenton. He started something called Club Pag-asa and I decided to join in because I love to help people.
Unfortunately Brother Dan left, and my friend Alan and I wanted to keep the club to keep on going. It turned out to be a great success. I have gathered many people together to keep the club at my high school. Together at Club Pag-asa-Tucson we have planned fun events like an Olympic Night to gather money for Bahay Pag-asa. I really enjoyed being a leader in this club because I know what I am doing is making a difference.
I really want to go to Bahay Pag-asa because I love to help people. I really want to know the community I have been helping out and I also want to learn about the experiences the people have had at Bahay Pag-asa. This past Thanksgiving I helped out
in a small town called McKee, Kentucky and I helped a local chapel prepare a
Thanksgiving dinner for the elderly. The people really appreciated the work I did and that
is what I am hoping for if I go to Bahay Pag-asa. I am very patient with people and very
open and listen to what people have to say. My favorite sports are soccer and basketball
and I will never deny playing a game. I am really excited to hopefully attend this trip.
And I cannot wait to see everyone there.
2. Albert Ahedo, Pasadena Community College (graduate of Cathedral High School, Los Angeles, California)
Hello, my name is Albert Ahedo. I am a Cathedral high school graduate of 2013. My high school experience was one I will never forget. They say high school is where you find yourself, and I feel I did. Being involved in many of the wonderful programs at Cathedral was my favorite part of school. Being involved in drama, on stage in plays and musicals and also being on the team that helped Cathedral win a second CIF Volleyball Championship. Along with these great activities the most enjoyment I got in high school was leading retreats and helping plan for pray services as well as mass. This is where I found my love for religion and helping others.
Because of this interest I have goals to become a religion teacher. I am currently enrolled at Pasadena Community College where I can get my generals done and reach my goal to attend Saint Mary's College of California. This is where I will study Theology and Theater. I also work at Holy Family High School, Glendale. Where I am a volleyball coach and a personal trainer in their fitness center. This is where I realized my love for teaching and coaching.
There are many reasons why I would want to attend Bahay Pag- asa Youth Centers in the Philippines, but the main reason is to help me decide on a vocation. After graduating Cathedral I have joined the Brothers contact program where this experience has been brought up to me. I believe that this experience will help me decide between becoming a Christian Brother or a Lasallian Teacher. If I were not being called to God to become a Brother I would still love to be a part of the Lasallian tradition. I have talked to many people that have gone on this mission and they said it changed their life. I would like to have the opportunity to have this same life changing experience.
2. Albert Ahedo, Pasadena Community College (graduate of Cathedral High School, Los Angeles, California)
Hello, my name is Albert Ahedo. I am a Cathedral high school graduate of 2013. My high school experience was one I will never forget. They say high school is where you find yourself, and I feel I did. Being involved in many of the wonderful programs at Cathedral was my favorite part of school. Being involved in drama, on stage in plays and musicals and also being on the team that helped Cathedral win a second CIF Volleyball Championship. Along with these great activities the most enjoyment I got in high school was leading retreats and helping plan for pray services as well as mass. This is where I found my love for religion and helping others.
Because of this interest I have goals to become a religion teacher. I am currently enrolled at Pasadena Community College where I can get my generals done and reach my goal to attend Saint Mary's College of California. This is where I will study Theology and Theater. I also work at Holy Family High School, Glendale. Where I am a volleyball coach and a personal trainer in their fitness center. This is where I realized my love for teaching and coaching.
There are many reasons why I would want to attend Bahay Pag- asa Youth Centers in the Philippines, but the main reason is to help me decide on a vocation. After graduating Cathedral I have joined the Brothers contact program where this experience has been brought up to me. I believe that this experience will help me decide between becoming a Christian Brother or a Lasallian Teacher. If I were not being called to God to become a Brother I would still love to be a part of the Lasallian tradition. I have talked to many people that have gone on this mission and they said it changed their life. I would like to have the opportunity to have this same life changing experience.
3. Valerie Purcell, Saint Mary’s College of California (graduating 2014).
My name is Valerie, and I am currently a senior at Saint Mary’s College of California. I stand to graduate in the spring with a degree in Psychology, concentrating in child/adolescent development and a minor in English. After completion of my undergraduate degree, I am hoping to pursue a Masters in Social Work. When expressing my desire to go into social work, one of the brothers at St. Mary’s told me about the Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center. This trip is a way for me to explore my interest in social work and support the Brothers’ work at this youth center. This youth center gives these boys that have come into conflict with the law hope by changing their environment to their advantage. I want to support this critical work and it is a great way to live out the Lasallian Mission in my own life.
4. Franklin Muñoz, U. C. Santa Cruz (graduate of Cathedral High School, Los Angeles, California)
My name is Franklin Braulio Munoz, I am currently a freshman at the University of California Santa Cruz, a proposed philosophy major interested in possibly doubling up with a major in Politics. I am originally though, from Los Angeles where after attending Catholic Elementary school at Immaculate Conception, I became a Cathedral Phantom. Having just last year graduated from Cathedral College Prep, I find my loving memories and fondness for my alma mater unchanged, and I know that will always stay the same. My time as a Phantom directly changed the way I view myself, my identity, my faith and the world around me. Simply put I love Cathedral High School, its mission, its teachers and the friends I made, all of which changed my life. The Christian Brothers who were at the school served as models of compassion and wisdom, and I am happy to say I remain very close to many of the Brothers that have remained great friends and mentors.
When I entered Cathedral, I did so upset, angry and distant from my faith. Throughout my high school career that changed though. Through countless hours of community work and bonding with Lasallian Youth I realized that there was more to faith than just reiterating teachings. Not only is my faith today a tangible purposeful part of my life, it remains ever- changing and very real. Through service headed by the Christian Brothers I realized I could be part of a larger network that was capable of creating change in people’s lives. And in the classroom a passion for the Catholic Church’s history, philosophy, and role today was fostered. With Lasallian Youth I took part in the vocation retreat and various service “immersion” trips. I was fortunate to be part of LYA in Portland, Oregon as well as World Youth day in Madrid, “El Otro Lado” in Tucson, and other gatherings with LaSalle Pasadena.
I was active in weekly service at the Midnight Mission on skid row in Los Angeles as
well as the Downtown women’s shelter and its thrift store.
I remain active in service in college whenever I can and have been since graduating from Cathedral part of the Brothers Contact Program. I write this, ecstatic about the news of my inclusion in this year’s volunteer opportunity in the Bahay Pag-asa Youth Centers. Ever since I was first told of this trip and the work done in the Philippines through Brother Chris Patino during my freshman year, I hoped to have such an opportunity and I was very happy to meet with my friends who participated last year with Brother Dan and hear of their experience.
With all honestly, I am tremendously nervous when I even think of being given such an opportunity especially with the cost of travel and by just being chosen to partake in such a big deal. What I am certain of is that I can be a positive, focused and open contributor. I am extremely humbled at even having the opportunity to write this brief bio, and I hope to convey how excited, motivated and loved I feel at being considered to do such great work. I hope to be of service to the Brothers and St. De LaSalle’s mission through this opportunity and am so thankful at the chance to say a little about myself and the Brothers’ role in my life.
Thanks Again! - Franklin
A great team for summer 2014!
I am very excited to have these four talented, motivated and inspired young people traveling with me to the Philippines this summer. As you can see from their personal statements, they are very open to the experience and very much looking forward teaming
I remain active in service in college whenever I can and have been since graduating from Cathedral part of the Brothers Contact Program. I write this, ecstatic about the news of my inclusion in this year’s volunteer opportunity in the Bahay Pag-asa Youth Centers. Ever since I was first told of this trip and the work done in the Philippines through Brother Chris Patino during my freshman year, I hoped to have such an opportunity and I was very happy to meet with my friends who participated last year with Brother Dan and hear of their experience.
With all honestly, I am tremendously nervous when I even think of being given such an opportunity especially with the cost of travel and by just being chosen to partake in such a big deal. What I am certain of is that I can be a positive, focused and open contributor. I am extremely humbled at even having the opportunity to write this brief bio, and I hope to convey how excited, motivated and loved I feel at being considered to do such great work. I hope to be of service to the Brothers and St. De LaSalle’s mission through this opportunity and am so thankful at the chance to say a little about myself and the Brothers’ role in my life.
Thanks Again! - Franklin
A great team for summer 2014!
I am very excited to have these four talented, motivated and inspired young people traveling with me to the Philippines this summer. As you can see from their personal statements, they are very open to the experience and very much looking forward teaming
up with our Lasallian Brothers and colleagues in the Philippines for this very important
work.
As always, we are looking for donors and sponsors to help these volunteers travel to the Philippines and back. In doing this volunteer work, each of them is giving up the opportunity to earn money during the summer – a very real sacrifice in today’s expensive educational scene. I hope to be able to find the funds for their airfare as a way of making this trip possible for them and as a way of thanking them for being willing to devote so much of their “time off” to this effort. The round trip flight (four flights) from Los Angeles to Bacolod City, Philippines is approximately $1700 per person. I would like to invite (as I always do) individuals, schools, and/or communities to consider helping one or more of these volunteers. Any donations may be directed to a particular volunteer or to the group in general. Donations may be sent directly as a check to Br. Dan Fenton (1263 Bishops Road, Cathedral High School, Los Angeles, 90012) or through De La Salle Institute, 4401 Redwood Road, Napa, CA 94558-9708. (Please direct any checks sent to Napa to Julie Hosford and note on the check that the donation is for Br. Dan’s Philippine Volunteer, 2014.)
Every year many of you donate, but we deeply appreciate also your prayers and encouragement. You are a blessing to us and to the young people we serve.
As always, we are looking for donors and sponsors to help these volunteers travel to the Philippines and back. In doing this volunteer work, each of them is giving up the opportunity to earn money during the summer – a very real sacrifice in today’s expensive educational scene. I hope to be able to find the funds for their airfare as a way of making this trip possible for them and as a way of thanking them for being willing to devote so much of their “time off” to this effort. The round trip flight (four flights) from Los Angeles to Bacolod City, Philippines is approximately $1700 per person. I would like to invite (as I always do) individuals, schools, and/or communities to consider helping one or more of these volunteers. Any donations may be directed to a particular volunteer or to the group in general. Donations may be sent directly as a check to Br. Dan Fenton (1263 Bishops Road, Cathedral High School, Los Angeles, 90012) or through De La Salle Institute, 4401 Redwood Road, Napa, CA 94558-9708. (Please direct any checks sent to Napa to Julie Hosford and note on the check that the donation is for Br. Dan’s Philippine Volunteer, 2014.)
Every year many of you donate, but we deeply appreciate also your prayers and encouragement. You are a blessing to us and to the young people we serve.
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