Did you know……?

A study by the University of California shows that
Students involved in the arts are:

• Over four times more likely to engage in community service
• Eight times more likely to win a community service award.

The Westfield School of Dance believes in giving back and reaching out to those in need. Over the years we have been involved in different areas of community service and studio outreach, through Westfield Cares, The United Fund of Westfield, Girl Scout Service Projects, visiting nursing homes, free dance camp at the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Fanwood, Westfield’s First Night to name a few.

Currently, WSOD has adopted Missionaries of the poor (MOP) as an ongoing outreach program.

Missionaries of the Poor (MOP)

Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) was founded by Father Richard HoLung, a Catholic priest, in 1981, in Kingston, Jamaica. As the religious community began to take shape and solidify, MOP opened their first apostolate: Faith Centre-a home for destitute and homeless persons. What began as an initial group of four, MOP now reaches out to all
corners of the world with apostolates and centers in, India, Haiti, the Philippines, Uganda, Kenya, & The United States. Pastoral and spiritual activities, worship and prayer, music and song are an integral part of MOP services to the poor. Living a materially simple and austere life, they own nothing personally, hold no personal bank accounts, do not
watch TV or listen to radio, and do not drink alcoholic beverages or smoke. They sleep on bunk beds in dormitories, pray, eat, recreate, study, work and travel in community. Their daily life revolves around a life of prayer beginning at 5:45 a.m. and ending with night prayer at 9:00 p.m. They live a partly monastic life in cloister but graciously welcome visitors to their monasteries and ministries. In November of 2008, Miss Joanne
visited the brothers of Missionaries of the Poor, in Cebu, Philippines where she worked side-by-side with the brothers serving the needs of the poor, the sick, the abandoned, the disabled, the mentally retarded and the neglected; sharing their meals, their water, and their home. And spent an entire day ministering to the youth of the surrounding area.
In December, the families of The Westfield School of Dance generously collect, donate and ship boxes of “Bundles of Joy” (toiletries, clothing, and basic needs) for the elderly, homeless and children of The Little Lamb Center in Cebu. Missionaries of the Poor take a vow of free-service to the least: None of the members receives salary, payment or stipend for his services. The community does not charge for its services
to the poor and needy. As an ongoing outreach program of the Westfield School of Dance, ask how you too can continue to help those in need.

Visit: www.missionariesofthepoor.org