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At St. Coletta & Cardinal Cushing Schools of Massachusetts they have an annual fundraiser, which they call a spring event. Cardinal Cushing started this school for children with special needs 60 years ago with the Franciscan sisters from Milwaukee. Cardinal Cushing had a very great love for children with special needs. It was one of his passions in life, and so he was very instrumental in establishing the Cardinal Cushing Centers.

The tent was crowded with friends of the school

Addressing those gathered

Two of the students serving the food .They did a wonderful job

 

There were about 500 people there for a dinner and fundraiser. The youngsters performed this new kind of synchronized dancing. It is very athletic and jumping around … all very synchronized.

 

The percussion group formed out of an occupational therapy exercise called, Brain Gym. It involved crossing the mid line of the body with the arms and legs and improves concentration and learning.

And then one young man, a graduate from the school, sang from the musical “Man of La Mancha.” He had a beautiful voice.

Joey Remington, a former student, sang and received a standing ovation

They honored a number of people, including one of the Franciscan sisters who was there.

Cardinal Cushing also built a replica of the Church of the Porziuncola in Assisi in the Hanover school campus. I visited the chapel.

Our local Porziuncola. That’s a statue of St. Francis in front.

The Porziuncola is a small chapel that St. Francis restored becoming his home. There he founded in 1209 the Order of Friars Minor. St Francis assembled all the Friars in the Chapter every year at the Porziuncola to discuss their rule and to renew their dedication to the Gospel Life. The original Porziuncola in Assisi is now covered by a big basilica, whereas the one we have in the archdiocese is more like the one St. Francis would have seen, which was surrounded by woods.

The original Porziuncola, located inside
the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi

The exterior is a perfect replica of the original (the stone was even brought from Assisi) though the inside is much fancier, and much more finished looking than the original.

Cardinal Cushing was so fond of the site, he chose to be buried there.

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