Caring for Creation and Community: A Tribute to Mary in May

On May 8th, 2026, the St. Mary’s South Side school community honored Mary by dedicating a day to diverse charitable, environmental, and educational projects that put the values of the Marianist Family Encounters Project into action, supporting the poor and caring for the Earth.

On May 8th, St. Mary’s South Side school-wide dedicated a period to promoting the goals and values of the Marianist Family Encounters Project (MFEP). Rather than participating in our usual monthly academy club activities, our students spent time responding to the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth.

 Our cooking club prepared enough casseroles to feed over 200 women in need, while another group of students worked on building a "little food pantry" to provide for those in local need. Other students built self-watering planters and pollinator habitats out of recycled materials. Another group of Dragons designed signage to promote better recycling and waste disposal here on our campus. Our German club examined that nation's best practices concerning sustainability. In our local neighborhood and nearby parks, students picked up litter and cleaned up our shared watershed, while others used saws and pruners to clear out invasive honeysuckle. Several students participated in discussion groups and film screenings on various topics, such as plastic waste, eliminating the hurry to increase mindfulness and technology-free presence, and the impact of climate change on personal mental wellness. Meanwhile, our finance club investigated the many benefits of charitable giving.  Thus, in the afternoon, our whole school family actively accepted the challenge of MFEP and did what we could to transform its values into real action. 

Originally envisioned as an Earth Day commemoration, we moved the activities to May to honor Mary and her model of justice, faith, and care for all creation.

Update sent by Curt Sidorski,

Ministry Lead, Marianist Encounters,

Social Studies & Media Teacher,

St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School

St. Louis, MO