Cornelia Connelly Day 2020: Service, Joy and Chocolate
This year we celebrated Cornelia Connelly Day in an unforgettable way. Joy-filled acts of service were foundational to our founder, Cornelia Connelly, but with in-person volunteering off-limits, Mayfield explored new ways to approach an event that is traditionally defined by en-masse acts of service, without losing the sense of community-building that goes alongside that.
“Living in the Spirit of Cornelia Connelly,” was how the Campus Ministry team decided to approach the day. With their schedules free of classes and meetings, students were invited to start the day with a special prayer from the Society of the Holy Child Jesus—a five-minute meditation on “How We Are Called to Love and Serve” in honor of the 175th anniversary celebration of the Society’s founding.
The service element of the day was more variable than usual, as girls embarked on personal, socially-distanced volunteering activities, including baking for essential workers, knitting hats for pre-term newborns, writing notes to residents inside nursing homes. But the biggest call to action was to participate in the ongoing Loaves & Fishes service program, which launched at Mayfield in September. Students and families make sack lunches at home and drop them off on campus every Wednesday morning, and in turn, these meals are delivered to our neighbors at Union Station Homeless Services. And the sheer volume of donations for Cornelia Connelly Day exceeded anyone’s expectations: 1,542 bag lunches!
Several staff members helped inventory the lunches as they came in and packed them in the vans for delivery. Angelica Sanchez, a Mayfield mom (Isabella ’23) and a member of the administrative staff, said her third Cornelia Connelly Day celebration was more than simply “memorable.” She suggests that the pandemic has created a new level of perception and engagement among students, because, as Ms. Sanchez says, ”It’s a reflection of what is going on and the fact that so many people just can’t get what they need.” This year, when it came to performing personal acts of service, “it’s not just a matter of getting it done,” she says.
Head of School Kate Morin explains it this way: “Even in the best of times, serving others is a great way to find joy and meaning in your life. It's a great way for teenage girls, especially to see that their lives have power and meaning and purpose.” And Mrs. Morin brought her signature treat to anyone dropping off for “Loaves and Fishes”: her homemade cupcakes. “Cornelia Connelly is smiling down on us as we celebrate her day with service,” Mrs. Morin laughs. “Service and chocolate, what could be better?”
In a time in which people are experiencing disproportionate levels of anxiety or exhaustion, Mrs. Morin encouraged students “to dance or sing or do some writing or do some art or go swimming or do something fun because Cornelia was all about fun.” Drew Valentino ’22 happily reported her first drive on the freeway since receiving her license, and Melanie Ahn ’21 and her sister welcomed a new puppy, which, she said “definitely crosses off several of the intentions of Cornelia Connelly Day: celebrating life, acting with joy.”
ASB President Mariana Trujillo says that the sense of positive community engagement was absolutely present as soon as she drove through the gates of Bellefontaine, even though she never actually set foot on campus. “The energy, excitement, and love I felt even from my car were the best feelings in the world,” says Mariana. “Even apart from each other, Mayfield found a way to come together, and knowing that we can help others with our ‘Actions Not Words’ was the best part of it all.”
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The service element of the day was more variable than usual, as girls embarked on personal, socially-distanced volunteering activities, including baking for essential workers, knitting hats for pre-term newborns, writing notes to residents inside nursing homes. But the biggest call to action was to participate in the ongoing Loaves & Fishes service program, which launched at Mayfield in September. Students and families make sack lunches at home and drop them off on campus every Wednesday morning, and in turn, these meals are delivered to our neighbors at Union Station Homeless Services. And the sheer volume of donations for Cornelia Connelly Day exceeded anyone’s expectations: 1,542 bag lunches!
Several staff members helped inventory the lunches as they came in and packed them in the vans for delivery. Angelica Sanchez, a Mayfield mom (Isabella ’23) and a member of the administrative staff, said her third Cornelia Connelly Day celebration was more than simply “memorable.” She suggests that the pandemic has created a new level of perception and engagement among students, because, as Ms. Sanchez says, ”It’s a reflection of what is going on and the fact that so many people just can’t get what they need.” This year, when it came to performing personal acts of service, “it’s not just a matter of getting it done,” she says.
Head of School Kate Morin explains it this way: “Even in the best of times, serving others is a great way to find joy and meaning in your life. It's a great way for teenage girls, especially to see that their lives have power and meaning and purpose.” And Mrs. Morin brought her signature treat to anyone dropping off for “Loaves and Fishes”: her homemade cupcakes. “Cornelia Connelly is smiling down on us as we celebrate her day with service,” Mrs. Morin laughs. “Service and chocolate, what could be better?”
In a time in which people are experiencing disproportionate levels of anxiety or exhaustion, Mrs. Morin encouraged students “to dance or sing or do some writing or do some art or go swimming or do something fun because Cornelia was all about fun.” Drew Valentino ’22 happily reported her first drive on the freeway since receiving her license, and Melanie Ahn ’21 and her sister welcomed a new puppy, which, she said “definitely crosses off several of the intentions of Cornelia Connelly Day: celebrating life, acting with joy.”
ASB President Mariana Trujillo says that the sense of positive community engagement was absolutely present as soon as she drove through the gates of Bellefontaine, even though she never actually set foot on campus. “The energy, excitement, and love I felt even from my car were the best feelings in the world,” says Mariana. “Even apart from each other, Mayfield found a way to come together, and knowing that we can help others with our ‘Actions Not Words’ was the best part of it all.”
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Established in 1931, Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, CA is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women grades 9-12. Noted for its rigorous academic program, which includes 28 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, Mayfield’s curriculum is underscored by a philosophy of educating the “whole child,” which also encourages commitment to and excellence in the arts, athletics, community service and spiritual growth. The nurturing environment at Mayfield Senior School allows each student to flourish in an atmosphere of personal attention.
