Mount St. Dominic recently hosted a week-long Taylor Swift-inspired “Souper Bowl” soup can collection drive, benefiting the Caldwell Food Pantry, which is relocating and set to open on March 1. The goal was to collect 1989 cans, a number chosen to honor Swift, born in 1989, and the name of her fifth studio album, “1989.”
The Mount exceeded its goal, collecting over 2,000 cans. It took five full carloads, in a car heavily laden with cans, to deliver the donations. In the photo above, Mount Seniors including (left to right) Gabriella LaMarca (Caldwell), Lauren Bowling (Nutley), Madeline Dolan (West Caldwell), Brooke Proscia (North Caldwell) and Giuliana DeSilva (Verona) are moving soup cans to start packing up cars to drive to the Caldwell Food Pantry. Dolan, secretary of ministry, shared that the volunteers at the pantry were “amazed and grateful” for the donation, which will help stock their shelves.
Since the start of the school year, Mount students have been actively involved in various charitable activities. They’ve worn pink socks and shoelaces for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, participated in a Dig Pink Volleyball Tournament that raised $300 for Minnette’s Angels, and collected brand-new socks for donation to Bridges Outreach in Summit and the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair. Additionally, they donated Halloween candy to Mercy House in Newark, and Mount Against Cancer has raised $3,593, through Cookies for a Cure, Spike for a Cure, Cupcakes for a Cure, and National Cancer Prevention Month Dressdowns. In December, the school held its annual Christmas Toy Drive for children at Mercy House. In addition, The Mount will be holding a Give Cancer the Boot Kickball Tournament on March 5.
Mount St. Dominic boasts several social impact clubs, including Glamour Gals, where students visit Marian Manor, a community for seniors, monthly to give manicures and enjoy refreshments together. The Key Club focuses on making a positive impact through service, while the Laudato Si Action Platform club (LSAP) responds actively to the ecological crisis highlighted in Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’.” The Operation Smile club, part of a global organization, transforms lives through free cleft surgeries and comprehensive oral care. Project Outreach meets every Friday to make PB + J sandwiches for various organizations in Newark, making 1,250 sandwiches to date. Mount Against Cancer, the Veterans’ Club, and the Women for Women Club are also active, each supporting various causes.
Since June, Mount St. Dominic students have collectively performed well over 4,279 hours of service. Students are required to complete at least 25 hours (seniors), 20 hours (juniors), 15 hours (sophomores), and 12 hours (freshmen) of service each year, but many students far exceed these levels.
At Mount St. Dominic, students are encouraged to embody caritas, the Latin word for love. This principle serves as a guiding philosophy, instilling in students a sense of commitment to social justice and human rights—charity for the greater good. As part of the Mount’s Dominican values, one of the four pillars is mission, emphasizing the call to serve others. At MSDA, students not only receive a high-quality education, they are also nurtured to become socially responsible, globally aware leaders of tomorrow, equipped to make meaningful contributions to the world beyond the Mount. This is just one way Mount students “find their fire.”
