Holy Ghost Catholic School: A Legacy of Service

Small school communities with intent and purpose can make significant contributions to their larger community. This is the case with Holy Ghost Catholic School, a small pre-K through 8th grade school with approximately 150 students, located in the International District of Southeast Albuquerque. Guided by Catholic Social Teaching and supported by students, parents, staff, and local organizations, hundreds of service projects, both group and individual, have made a difference in the Albuquerque area and beyond over the past two decades. To support these projects, more than $150,000 has been raised and donated by this small school community, specifically for service projects.

Service was incorporated into the school’s mission statement and operations in 2007, with student and staff committees created to monitor and advance service. One of the first actions taken was establishing a relationship with the City of Albuquerque Open Space Department, a connection that continues today. Middle school students participate in 4-5 service trips a year, organized and supervised by Open Space staff. Students have spent over 4,000 work hours addressing various needs, including planting thousands of cottonwood and willow trees around the city.

In 2007, the school also initiated an annual project with the national Kids Against Hunger organization in which ingredients are brought onsite, and meals designed specifically to address malnutrition are then packed by students and shipped nationally and internationally. After several years at Holy Ghost Catholic School, the project was adopted by other schools to provide better opportunities for participation by the wider Catholic schools community. As a result, more than 2.5 million meals have been packed and distributed to families in New Mexico and places worldwide, such as Haiti.

Located in southeast Albuquerque, the students, staff, and families have become increasingly aware of the needs of people experiencing homelessness in our city. In the spirit of “we can’t fix this, but we can do something”, in 2014, the school began an annual Christmas “Merry Bags” project with St. Martin’s Hospitality Center/HopeWorks. Students raise money to purchase cold weather clothing, gift cards, and other items used to fill Merry Bags decorated by students. Older students distribute the clothing and Merry Bags to clients of the Center and sing Christmas carols.

Group and individual student projects have served diverse interests and organizations, including human services, animal welfare, food security, education, hospitality, eldercare, childcare, and disaster relief. To date, more than 52,000 hours of community service have been completed by students. Four students have received national recognition through the Prudential Spirit of Community awards, and many students have received awards through the President's Volunteer Service Award program.

The collective effort of this small school community has, and continues to have, a lasting impact on the Albuquerque community and beyond. Holy Ghost Catholic school is proud of its legacy of service that has contributed to our rich history and will be a continual contributor to our school community.