The Greyhound Editorial: Annual Project Mexico Auction puts Jesuit values, mission into practice
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Opinion
Come tomorrow night, McGuire Hall will be a flurry of people and activity as the Center for Community Service and Justice kicks off its annual Project Mexico Auction at 4 p.m. Now in its 18th year, the auction acts as the primary fundraiser for CCSJ's Project Mexico service-immersion trip, an annual 10-day excursion to towns in Mexico, including Tijuana and Mexicali.
As students of a Jesuit university, we are called to reflect on Loyola's mission of developing people into men and women for and with others. For the 23 students, faculty and staff members traveling to Mexico in late December, they will experience this mission first hand, participating in community construction projects, cultural programs and discussions centering on topics from immigration to the environment.
For those of us not participating in the direct service trip, tomorrow's auction can be used as a learning tool. While attendees of the auction will be concerned with having a night of fun and friendly competition, our reflecting on the impact the auction has in the money it raises for the Project Mexico team - CCSJ estimates anywhere between $15,000 and $20,000 is collected each year - allows us to think about the interconnectedness of our world, and how the actions at one school in the state of Maryland can reverberate in such places as Tijuana, Mexico. Each bid could be books for a child, or siding for a home. Each auctioned item could provide food for one family, or desks for a classroom.
As we enjoy the atmosphere of the Project Mexico Auction tomorrow night, let us not forget the ultimate purpose of the endeavor. To the Project Mexico team, The Greyhound wishes them a successful auction and a safe trip in December.
As students of a Jesuit university, we are called to reflect on Loyola's mission of developing people into men and women for and with others. For the 23 students, faculty and staff members traveling to Mexico in late December, they will experience this mission first hand, participating in community construction projects, cultural programs and discussions centering on topics from immigration to the environment.
For those of us not participating in the direct service trip, tomorrow's auction can be used as a learning tool. While attendees of the auction will be concerned with having a night of fun and friendly competition, our reflecting on the impact the auction has in the money it raises for the Project Mexico team - CCSJ estimates anywhere between $15,000 and $20,000 is collected each year - allows us to think about the interconnectedness of our world, and how the actions at one school in the state of Maryland can reverberate in such places as Tijuana, Mexico. Each bid could be books for a child, or siding for a home. Each auctioned item could provide food for one family, or desks for a classroom.
As we enjoy the atmosphere of the Project Mexico Auction tomorrow night, let us not forget the ultimate purpose of the endeavor. To the Project Mexico team, The Greyhound wishes them a successful auction and a safe trip in December.
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