Living & Learning class “graduation” slated

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Participants in the Living & Learning class at Catholic Charities wore caps and gowns and received a special recognition for their accomplishments during a May 13 Mass at the Immaculate Conception Chapel on the campus of Blessed Pope John Paul II High School.

The Mass also included first Communion for Bianca Lugo Hill and Alexis Agustin Gonzalez and a special Mother’s Day blessing. Father Mathias Arularasu, Administrator of Holy Cross Parish, celebrated the Mass.

“This is really a celebration of our class in honor of their outstanding service and work,” program director Celia Mendez said. “The celebration will be very meaningful to them.”

The Living & Learning class meets weekly on Mondays and offers deaf adult ladies the opportunity to have fellowship and fun while participating in arts and crafts and classroom instruction. Students practice their skills in cooking, crafts, sewing, painting, reading, math and spelling. Class participants range in age from 30 to 82.

This is not a final graduation since all class participants are welcome to continue with the program. The idea came from the students, many who did not have the opportunity to attend school or graduate. The graduation gowns were donated and the students made their own caps.

On Monday, May 14 from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., a “Graduation” Recognition Ceremony and Lunch was held at Catholic Charities located at 1322 Comanche St. in Corpus Christi. All graduates received an award. Employees of Catholic Charities hosted the lunch.

No graduation celebration is complete without a limo ride, Mendez said. On Monday, May 21, all graduates were treated to a limo ride around Corpus Christi.

The 2012 “graduates” are: Maria Azua, Maria Briones, Christina Colunga, Felicitas Flores, Elsa Hernandez, Irma Gallegos, Sylvia Gonzales, Dawn Lenertz, Anna Marie Martinez, Julie Mendez, Yolanda Castañeda, Maria Robles, Ericka Torres, Alice Young and in loving memory of Esther Martinez.