News Detail - Campus Life
Cleveland’s Matthew 25 Project Inspires Sophomore Service Day
Sophomore Service Day offered students an opportunity to explore Cleveland as they engaged with the Matthew 25 project, a series of six life-sized sculptures created by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz. They are located on the near west side of Cleveland and designed to remind us to help those in need. Cleveland and Rome are the only two cities in the world to have the full collection of all six bronze figures in the collection.
Advisory groups began the day at the six sculpture locations, where they cleaned the statue and reflected on its meaning and how Christ’s call to “serve the least of these” connects to their own lives.
Homeless Jesus - located at St. Malachi Parish
This sculpture depicts the basic need for shelter and raises awareness of the homeless population in our community who are in need of care and compassion.
When I Was Sick - located at Lutheran Hospital
Representative of not just physical illness, this powerful piece shows the many ways illness can affect people including mental health, addiction, disability and abuse.
When I Was In Prison - located at The Wholeness Project
This portrays the loneliness of people who are incarcerated and the struggles they face upon reentry into society. The Wholeness Project houses two charter schools, two churches and Community Service Alliance, which provides transitional housing to formerly incarcerated men.
When I Was a Stranger - located at Re:Source Cleveland
This sculpture urges us to understand the difficulty immigrants face when entering a new country. Re:Source Cleveland is an organization on the forefront of helping people from all over the world acclimate to Cleveland as their new home. Their headquarters is located on the campus of Urban Community School.
When I Was Naked - located at Malachi House
The statue illustrates the vulnerability of the poor and those who live without their basic needs being met. Malachi House works to care for homeless individuals who are terminally ill.
When I Was Hungry and Thirsty - located at Old Stone Church
This sculpture portrays the desperation and hopelessness experienced by those who are hungry.
From there, advisories partnered with a variety of organizations to live out that call to service:
- Food Strong’s Urban Farm – Students cleared, cleaned and supported a site that helps Cleveland communities access healthy food and essential services.
- Stella Maris – Students learned about the region’s oldest addiction treatment provider, then sorted donated clothing to help the staff better serve those in recovery.
- Re:Source Cleveland with March for Access – Students met with leaders and alumni of Youth Challenge, who shared their experiences of being “strangers” because of their physical challenges. The students made signs for the upcoming March for Access. The March highlights the inaccessibility of public transportation (buses, planes, Ubers, etc). In addition to the posters, students put together packs with essential tools needed for wheelchair-bound individuals. Finally, students had opportunities to experience the challenges of moving around the area in a wheelchair.
- The Wholeness Project – Some students helped in the project’s elementary school, reorganizing and stocking the school’s library. Others helped in the church, cleaning the sanctuary and watering the gardens. The students were reminded of the project’s mission to build bridges between people with different ethnic and racial identities and provide support for under-resourced people.
Throughout the day, students not only worked hard but also took time to reflect—on the dignity of those they served, the importance of community, and the many ways they can live out Gilmour’s Holy Cross charisms. Sophomore Service Day reminded all involved that service is more than a single day of work — it’s a lifelong call to live with compassion, humility and hope.
See photos from the afternoon here.
