We head into new directions over the next three days. For some of our group, work with infants at Mercy Center in the Bronx awaits them, while their mothers learn English. Others will work in various social justice venues on the West Side of Manhattan. After lunch, some will head to Mercy Center and work with teens in their after-school programs.

Lord, help us to see your face in the working poor and in their children. In their need to feed their families, often children don’t get the attention that they might crave. May we be attentive to their needs today and in play or in work, may our students learn about their lives and try to understand a bit about their longings for mentors and friends who spend time with them when their families take care of their immediate needs.

Photo: Sabo/NY Daily News