Mission Week Two: A Week of Tremendous Support and Awareness!

The second Mission Week of the 2023-2024 school year was one for the ages. The Maroon and White Society conducted Mission Week 2 in support of Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatawin (OPK), an organization dedicated to supporting, nurturing, and walking with at-risk youth and families in Winnipeg. Serving one of the nation’s most impoverished neighbourhoods, OPK works with those who are in a vulnerable state and in need of assistance, with a focus on Indigenous men and youth. The Maroon and White Society, alongside the St. Paul’s community, supported OPK in their programming with two of the Universal Apostolic Preferences in mind: “Walking with the Marginalized” and “Journeying with Youth Towards a Hope-filled Future”.

On March 1, St. Paul’s High School welcomed Mr. Daniel Hidalgo to inform the student body about the goal and vision of OPK. After this assembly, Mission Week had officially begun!

Mission Week provided opportunities for insight and growth within our school community. On Wednesday, March 6, St. Paul’s High School invited Ms. Leah Gazan, Member of Parliament who represents Winnipeg Centre in the House of Commons, and Mr. Mitch Bourbonniere, an extremely devoted volunteer at OPK and alumnus of St. Paul’s High School. Ms. Gazan and Mr. Bourbonniere shared their extremely valuable knowledge and personal stories regarding the ongoing crisis of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada. Inspired by OPK’s mission, a group of students also participated in a community walk through Point Douglas, distributing food items and essentials to the vulnerable and marginalized in our city. 

The week ended off with a bang at the Benefit Bash! Featuring students from St. Mary’s Academy and St. Paul’s, the Benefit Bash brought together over 200 people for a thrilling night of music, education and fun! 

Through casual dress code fundraisers, bannock sales, a pizza lunch, and the highly anticipated Benefit Bash, the St. Paul’s community raised thousands of dollars to be donated to OPK Manitoba and their wonderful mission. Additionally, the Maroon and White Society was able to collect many bins full of non-perishable food items which have been donated to OPK!  

The Maroon & White Society would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all students, teachers, parents and community members for their overwhelming support during this Mission Week!