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By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer
ROSWELL—When Queen of Angels coach Brian McSparron decided to
go on a mission trip, he turned to the school for donations and prayer support.
In early October, McSparron joined more than 20 young adults from
the Church of St. Ann, Marietta, and St. Brigid Mission, Alpharetta, on a
mission trip to the Mustard Seed Community in Jamaica. Needing to solicit
supplies and $1,000 in donations, McSparron approached Sister Patricia Clune,
CSJ, about talking to the students.
“Anytime one in our community reaches out and really lives
the Gospel values, it benefits everyone,” Sister Clune said. “... I
knew that this would be a life-changing trip for (McSparron) and that everyone
would benefit from his growth and experience.”
With Sister Clune’s blessing, McSparron talked in all the
classrooms, explaining to the children what he would be doing in Jamaica. Boxes
for donations were set up. McSparron ended up collecting over $1,700 from
faculty, parents and students, in addition to several boxes of diapers, clothes
and medical supplies.
The physical education teacher was not surprised by the tremendous
response. “I knew the parents would back it and the kids would back
it,” he said. “The kids were excited about it.”
“Being a P.E. teacher I have the whole school,” he
continued. “All the kids know me and all the parents know me. It was a
win-win situation.”
McSparron spent the week of Oct. 7-14 in Jamaica painting and
repairing buildings of the Mustard Seed Communities that serve abandoned and
handicapped children. While there, he videotaped his experience to illustrate
his trip to the Queen of Angels’ students.
“I wanted to show the kids that there was a whole different
world than just here in Atlanta,” he said.
Sister Clune said that, in a way, the entire Queen of Angels’
community felt a part of the mission trip.
“We know a little more about our relationship with the world
now because of Brian’s trip,” she said. “... It’s really
nice to see this young gentleman who really wants to reach out and help others.
My hope is that when these kids get out of high school and college,
they’ll remember this and think ‘Coach McSparron did something like
this. Maybe I can do it myself.’” |
