BCSD returned this year to Our Lady’s School, Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, San Diego, as part of Boston College’s Global Days of Service. On Saturday, we assisted school principal Noel Bishop in sprucing up the school grounds and improving the school’s small garden.

L-R: Jose Luis Zuniga (custodian at Our Lady’s School), Bill McDonald ’68, Julia Scobbo ’11, Rory O’Donnell ’15, Josie Campese ’02, Lissa Tsu ’00, Carol West ’84, Jim West ’84, and, in front, Margot Tsu. Shereen Attisha ’92 and her sons had joined us earlier.

Shereen Attisha, MD, ’92, flanked by sons Alex (L) and Michael.

We joined thousands of fellow BC grads around the world in April and May who conducted service activities in their local communities. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the only Jesuit parish in San Diego County, and it serves the population of Barrio Logan, a heavily Hispanic community, in south central San Diego.

BCSD started the morning repotting Birds of Paradise and placing them outside classrooms facing out into the playground. We moved on to clear weeds, install lattices, and build a gravel walkway in the small garden area that features tomatoes. Finally, we touched up paint along the exterior of the school. Below is a photo gallery of the activities.

San Diego Eagles, as their part in BC’s Global Days of Service, spent several hours Saturday helping to beautify a section of the grounds at Our Lady’s School, affiliated with Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Diego’s only Jesuit parish. The church and school are located in Barrio Logan, a heavily Hispanic and low-income neighborhood of San Diego.

From left: a high school student volunteer; Greg Cortese JD’74; Erin Buss ’09; Rebecca Reid ’96; Rev. John Auther, SJ, pastor; a friend; Brian Tsu ’00; Katrina Vasquez ’10; Lissa Tsu ’00; and Bill McDonald ’68. Patricia Keefe ’89 and son William had to leave before the photo was taken.

The crew removed weeds from alongside one of the buildings, constructed plant beds, and hauled soil to fill the beds.

Before. Patricia Keefe ’89, foreground, works on removing weeds.

After.

Rebecca Reid ’96, left, connects sides of a plant bed, assisted by Lissa Tsu ’00.

Weed whackers, from left: Katrina Vasquez ’10, Erin Buss ’09, a friend, and a high school student.

Erin Buss ’09 and Brian Tsu ’00 load up the plant beds.

Several of the volunteers enjoyed Mexican seafood cuisine at a post-work lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Twenty-three local alumni, friends, spouses, and children marked BC’s 9th annual Day of Service, Saturday, April 12, by helping out at Our Lady’s School in San Diego.

L-R: Paulette Cazares ’98, Michelle Castin ’97 and son, Yonette Hobson ’01 and daughter, Michelle Rogers, John Rogers ’80, Bill McDonald ’68, Lissa Tsu ’00, Josie Campese ’02, Brian Tsu ’00, Jill Dedman ’00, Kathy McGrattan ’94 and daughter

San Diego Eagles partnered with the local chapter of Santa Clara University alumni at the school, which is the oldest Catholic elementary school in San Diego, sponsored by the only Jesuit parish in San Diego, and located in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. With only one janitor on staff and another campus to care for, the BC and Santa Clara alumni assisted by painting walls and cleaning windows and classrooms.

Walls, both high and low, were painted with fresh, bright colors.

Noel Bishop, principal of Our Lady’s School, briefed volunteers on the tasks at hand and expressed thanks on behalf of himself and the children and teachers at the school.

Two potential Eagles helped out and proudly held the BC banner.