Advent Reflections by Options Program students at Saint John Paul the Great HS

Every year, the Porto Charities family journeys together through Advent, reflecting on the Gospel readings for each week. This year, we will be guided by the students in our high school Options Programs and Expanded Services at Bishop Ireton, Bishop O’Connell, St. Paul VI, and Saint John Paul the Great. They have prayerfully reflected on the week's readings and have shared their thoughts with us through words, pictures, and videos. May the Lord bless us as we joyfully anticipate his coming. 

We invite you to enjoy this week’s reflections from Saint John Paul the Great Catholic HS

"Our Options students are dear friends, their close friendship was the inspiration for reflecting on the Visitation of Mary with Elizabeth and constructing this sculpture. The beautiful friendship and the love shared between Mary and Elizabeth as told in Luke's account of the Visitation, was the catalyst for our reflection piece. The sculpture was crafted, molded and painted over a two week span. Its core was constructed from aluminum foil, configured to take the shape of the human form and bear the weight of carefully placed strips of paper mache. Mary’s and Elizabeth’s arms were sculpted, joined together with the Virgin’s right hand atop Elizabeth’s left, both positioned gently on Mary’s womb. This representation, of what must have been a truly intimate encounter, is a tender depiction of Mary’s and  Elizabeth’s mutual profound love, and the affirmation of God’s plan for humanity’s salvation through the incarnation of the baby Jesus. 

Our chosen medium was not an easy endeavor to tackle, however neither was Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth. We even found ourselves traveling into week two needing to stop along our path to regroup, reread Luke’s Gospel, and fully contemplate the profound beauty of its message. It was during this time that the heart-shaped embrace of their wombs came to mind, and took form as the symbolic representation of God’s Incarnate love. Mary and Elizabeth welcomed their vocation through the grace of the Holy Spirit as John the Baptist leaped in recognition of the child Jesus. One can only imagine, in true awe, the wonderment and sheer joy the two experienced. 

From our classroom to yours, may the miracle of the Visitation embrace you, leave you comforted by the trust Mary placed in Him, and deepen your friendship with God and each other."

- JP Options