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The gift and power of service

June 3, 2015

Tracy Leonard of Watertown, a frequent contributor to the NCC, shares her acceptance speech for the 2015 Immaculate Heart Central Community Service Award presented at the school’s annual Legacy Gala May 2:
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Good evening and thank you so much for this recognition. There is no greater honor than service. There is no greater reward than service. And today, as all of you know, there is no greater need.

We live in a time when so many are hurting or are in need. When competition for jobs and economic security is increasing, and when for some reason, it seems the pressure simply to survive is growing. The call for us to be servants is great and that work begins in the home and in the classroom, and it continues every day in our communities.

Service is something we do every day. It is a vital part of our character and it helps define who we are.
Tonight I want to challenge you to think about service as something more than an activity to supplement for your daily work or simply to check a box. Rather, it is a lifetime commitment to helping others and being enriched by others.

The gift of service is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. Through service, we discover and live out our values. As Robert Kennedy said: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a ripple of hope.” That’s the power of service – a power I think everyone in this room understands.

For me, this power of service was cultivated, instilled and engrained under my parent’s roof from as early as I can remember. As the youngest of five girls, my parents lived service as part of their day-to-day humble routines. By creating a supportive environment for the character development of my sisters and me, my parents unceasingly were not only people of strong beliefs and powerful words, but also of meaningful action.

They worked countless hours at the family owed sub shop in order that they could financially support our needs. My dad helped coach our sports teams. Mom ran cafeteria duty weekly at Sacred Heart. They chaperoned field trips, played taxi around town, and helped sell candy bars for school fundraisers. Dad was the chairman of the Sacred Heart festival for years and the President of the school board as well. Every night we had dinner together as a family and every Sunday we were at Mass together.

My parents encouraged helping behaviors, they taught us about self-sacrificial love, and they regularly planted the seeds early in life to cultivate our hearts and minds to understand the value of service.

Continuation and reinforcement of these values was critically important to my parents as they sought a school for my sisters and me. Sacred Heart School and then IHC provided that “foundation for life” they so eagerly wanted for us… an environment which cultivated leaders and good citizens. One which believed in mutually supportive relationships through a faith community. One that believed in excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts, and one that believed in life-long learning and service to others.

As a student at Sacred Heart and IHC, I learned more than just academics. The curriculum was grounded in Christian values and helped prepare me for continued education not only academically but spiritually.

Growing up, I saw through my teachers and school administrators, how the passion and commitment to service of just one adult could transform the lives of hundreds of students. Let me try to give you a glimpse of this.
Saturdays building houses for Habitat for Humanity with Mr. Fontana Sr.. Sundays wheel chairing residents at Mercy with Mr. Burgess. Working the Sacred Heart Parish Festival with Sister Yvonne, Sister Bernadette Marie and Fr. Freeh. Praying with Sister Diane in my hospital room when I was hit by a car at the age of 12. Hours with Mrs. Percy in the library to check my spelling, grammar and elevate my vocabulary. Standing up for life at Washington D.C.s March for Life with Father Reilly and Pat Fontana Jr.. Praying, eating and traveling with Mr. Burgess, Mrs. Brady, Father Reilly, Crispin McDonald, Brandon Cooney and Dan Charlebois for Mystery Play. Serving dinners at the Sisters of St. Joseph and walking in the Good Friday cross walk with Lisa Parsons, Sister James Marie and Sister Cecilia Marie. 7:00 am Mass in the chapel before school with Mrs. Carlisle, Mrs. Biedikapp, Sister Cecilia, Mrs. Percy and Fr. Reilly… oh, and how could I forget sorting 1000s of pictures with Sister Mary Anne for the yearbook!

This is only a fraction of how I witnessed and participated in the Gospel truth, yet through these experiences, I internalized the belief that quality education, unity, and works of mercy can literally transform children’s lives and that with real opportunities, supports and guidance, all children can learn and succeed.

These formative experiences have driven me to sustain and/or improve programs, services, and opportunities within the school and our community so that others are afforded that same chance. I applaud my parents, my siblings, the faculty and the administration for the difference your work makes for individuals such as myself and for our community.

I am motivated and inspired by the hope, charity, generosity, commitment and dedication of what I saw growing up, and in turn, am passionate and excited to be of service to others. In expressing the love of God through the pursuit of a closer union with Him and neighbor, I am embodying the ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph – the critical cornerstone of IHC’s foundation.

Regardless of how one chooses to spend their time after leaving IHC, there is one phrase that captures the richness and complexity of what was learned here: That is: life is a calling of service to others. It is in caring for others that you will also find your own life enriched. IHC’s vision and mission speak to the lives of others and committing to social justice and service. As a byproduct – this creates a great life for their students and alumni!

The Immaculate Heart Legacy Gala, held May 2, is an annual celebration of Immaculate Heart Academy, Immaculate Heart Central Schools, and the school’s founders: the Sisters of St. Joseph of Watertown. Among awards presented during the evening was the Immaculate Heart Community Service Award given to Tracy Leonard. Ms. Leonard is shown above with her parents Charlie and Diane Leonard and three of her four sisters, all IHC graduates. From left are Julie Valvo, Lisa Wilson, Diane Leonard, Tracy Leonard, Charlie Leonard and Michele Lytle . The missing sister is Katie McCollom who lives in South Korea.

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