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Holy Cross High School faculty, staff and students brought the school’s spirit of giving back to several local organizations during its annual Day of Service. This community service initiative lies at the heart of the school’s Homecoming Weekend which also consists of a student dance, pep rally and football game.  This year’s Day of Service was done in conjunction with the United Way of Greater Waterbury, participating in the United Way's 24-25 Find it in Your Heart Campaign.   

The United Way helps thousands of people in the ten-community region. Holy Cross’s mission is to serve that same community, both in and outside the classroom.  The partnership is both natural and critical.  “What we do for this region, and perhaps most importantly, what our students see us doing to help this region, is powerful,” said Dr. Thomas C. Pellegrino.  “And it has never been more important.  Holy Cross is proud to partner with the United Way and the dedicated individuals involved in its work - many of whom are our alumni.”       

The Crusader community offered their services to several locations including: The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Catholic Academy of Waterbury, North End Recreational Center, St. John’s the Evangelist School, St. Mary Magdalen School, Camp Mataucha, Holy Land, St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store & Soup Kitchen, Waterbury PAL, Brass City Harvest, Mental Health, CT, the Waterbury Boys’ and Girls’ Club and the Waterbury YMCA.

Students like Patrick Cugliari ’25 and Joseph French-Graham ’25 worked off site at the Waterbury YMCA and the North End Recreational Center, respectively. Patrick read to the kindergarten students while Joseph worked with the Student Diversity Board to clean the center and make get-well cards.

“We are doing something powerful,” said Joseph. “(By making these cards), we are trying to make people feel better. Doing something like that that needs to be done more often.”

Patrick, Student Body President, sees this day as a true representation of Holy Cross High School and its mission.  “We are showing others who we are as a school community by giving back. We are all about giving back to our community, and the city of Waterbury is a big part of that community.”

Others worked on-site at Holy Cross High School cleaning, raking, organizing and working with local children from the Children’s Community School (CCS). Each of the CCS students was paired with a Holy Cross student to work on arts and crafts and enjoy a good book.  

“It was a lot of fun,” said Reese McGarrity ‘26. “I have read to kids from other schools before. I typically interact with kids who don’t come from the best homelife. However, they are always so positive. They are innocent and happy to be alive. (The student from Day of Service) was happy just to be there. He was excited about making a spider in arts and crafts.”

“Holy Cross's service activities are numerous but there is something special about our Day of Service,” said Dr. Pellegrino. “On this day, the traditional class experience is replaced with the classroom of the broader community.  Our students, teachers and staff go outside themselves, live and work for the other, and put the words of our mission into action in one of the best ways possible.”