Through Love, We Survive

Written by: Caroline Lang

I’m not an ACE teacher, student, or administrator. I haven’t been around the program, and as a humble college student, I certainly can’t donate much money to the cause. When it comes down to it, I’m really just an ACE groupie. But, hey, every great bus tour needs groupies, right?

For the past few months, I’ve worked in the ACE office on Notre Dame’s campus as an editorial intern, helping (or unintentionally hindering, depending on the day) the Communications and Media teams organize and promote the “Fighting For Our Children’s Future” National Bus Tour.

Day-to-day operations in the office are stressful and demanding as schedules are constantly shifting, mechanics are malfunctioning, and everyone seems to have as many projects and responsibilities as there are hours—sometimes it seems like minutes—in the day. Despite the challenges that come along with launching an ambitious national bus tour, every day in the office is a blessing. Every day I watch God work through a group of people as they strive to achieve what they truly believe in: access to quality Catholic education for every child across America. Logistics, schedules, and meetings are always kept in perspective with the deeper meaning in mind.

There are a lot of laughs, and there are a lot of hugs. The ACE office may have cabinets on cabinets full of coffee and a Keurig machine around every corner, but it more than anything runs on love and passion for the mission of “making God known, loved, and served.”

This past week I was extremely blessed to be able to join the ACE bus when it visited my hometown of Washington, D.C. while I was home on fall break. The ACE team took me on board (literally) and I got to see the mission in action and watch all the hard work back at “headquarters” pay off. Most importantly, I got to meet some students, look in their eyes, and see what it is really all about.

The students from St. Anthony’s School in D.C. jumped and cheered when they saw the bus, swarming Frs. Tim, Sean, and Lou for hugs and high fives. You would think the priests were pop stars with all the fanfare they received. You could tell even the youngest students appreciated ACE’s presence by the way they asked us questions about who we are, where we’re from, and why we came to visit them. They could tell it was something bigger than free pizza and a shiny bus.

Once the fanfare settled down, students, teachers, and ACErs alike headed into St. Anthony’s Church to give thanks to the One who makes it all possible. Awards and gifts were presented to God’s “foot soldiers” in the ACE community, but in the end, we reflected on how we are united in Christ and called to work together through his ultimate power and love.

Reminded of our solidarity in Christ, a peaceful stillness took over the Church when four female students from Archbishop Carroll High School lifted their voices to God in an incredibly moving harmony:

I pray for you, you pray for me. I love you, I need you to survive.

Heads slowly bowed around the Church. Some prayed, some cried as these words sunk in. This moment and these words served as a gentle reminder of the importance of community, of God’s community, made manifest in our nation’s Catholic schools.

Back at Notre Dame, we pray for the ACE schools, but across the nation, they’re praying for ours, too. This cross-country community of Catholic schools relies on God’s love and our love for each other to survive. And, with the help of ACE, it will continue to survive—and thrive—on this love for the next twenty years and beyond.