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Oak Knoll Community Serves with Purpose on Sister Eileen Day of Service
James McEvoy

Oak Knoll students across all grades came together on Thursday, October 23, to serve the broader community during the annual Sister Eileen McDevitt Day of Service, a tradition rooted in the Holy Child spirit of compassion and generosity.

In the morning, Upper School students ventured across the region for service trips, volunteering at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum, GRACE Food Pantry, America’s Grow-A-Row, The Mercy House, the Linden Housing Authority, and Sacred Heart School in Jersey City. Whether harvesting produce, preparing donations, or assisting local families, students experienced firsthand the impact of Cornelia Connelly’s call to “Actions, not words.”

During a prayer service that kicked off the day, Quinn McNany ’26, President of the Campus Ministry Council, reflected on another Connelly quote: “Practice virtue little by little in act after act.”

“Remember that in hundreds of little ways we are making a positive impact on the lives of people around us,” McNany said, adding that she and her classmates were continuing a tradition of service from generations of Oak Knoll students before them.

“While entering the new centennial, we should take a moment to reflect and honor all the Oak Knoll students who have exemplified the purpose of service and giving back to our community throughout the years,” she added.

Michele Van Kalsbeck, Director of Campus Ministry, encouraged students to approach their work with an open mind.

“Today, I ask you to perhaps go into your service trips with a slightly different mindset,” she said. “Thinking about what can I learn from what we’re doing. What can I learn about myself? What can I learn about the people we are serving? What can I learn from this experience?”

In the afternoon, the Lower School carried the mission forward through age-appropriate service activities. Students in grades 5 and 6 created Halloween crafts and wrote heartfelt notes for children at the Hersh Children’s Center at Overlook Medical Center in Summit.

The entire Lower School then gathered for a Kick-Off Assembly, which featured a Gospel reflection and the Mission Minute — an introduction to the work of the Elizabeth Coalition and Oak Knoll’s role in its mission. Patti Cepparulo, Lower School Religion Coordinator, noted that the Gospel reading ended with Jesus urging his disciples to “go and do likewise,” and the Lower School students carried out that call by crafting service bags filled with food, toiletries, socks, and more.

While this day represents a singular celebration of service, Oak Knoll students from Pre-K to Grade 12 participate in countless opportunities for outreach throughout the school year, reflecting the school’s ongoing commitment to forming compassionate leaders of faith and action.

First launched in 2001 by students in response to the tragedy of 9/11, the day has long united the community in reflection and purposeful action. In 2024, the tradition was renamed to honor Sister Eileen McDevitt, SHCJ, who retired that year as Executive Director of the Holy Child Network of Schools

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