My name is Anna Lenney and I am a rising junior at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. I have just completed the second week of my internship here at St. Anthony Shrine. What a first two weeks! After seeing first hand just a few of the many services provided here and all the behind-the-scenes work that everyone does, I am barely beginning to comprehend the amount of good that goes on at the Shrine on a daily basis. Though it has only been two weeks it is becoming very clear to me how lucky I am to be a part of the Shrine.
For part of my internship, I help out with the administrative work and do odd jobs around the office. However, for the more significant part of my internship, I am shadowing Mary Ann Ponti and the many different programs that she runs and works with. It has been a very unique experience and one I am not likely to forget. The following passage has been one of my favorite passages in Matthew’s gospel and it has come to mind quite a lot while working here these last two weeks:
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
I have barely scratched the surface of what it truly means to serve “the least of these” but I know that my time at the Shrine will help me to further understand this particular mission of Christ. Everyone at the Shrine, the Fathers, Brothers, and all the staff, have been so helpful and kind as I start on this new journey. From learning how to interact with all of our different brothers and sisters, to visiting St. Francis House, I have had a humbling and truly wonderful experience thus far. I am very excited to find out what working at St. Anthony Shrine has in store for me.
Written by Anna Lenney; a rising Junior at College of the Holy Cross