History of Eric's Promise

On March 15, 2002 a memorial mass took place at Marian High School. It was at that mass that "Eric's Promise" first began. On Ash Wednesday, the evening before Eric died, he made a Lenten promise "to try to be more giving". His first step in fulfilling that promise was to donate several bags of his clothes to the St. Vincent De Paul Society.

Eric never had the chance to complete what he had started. However, his friends and classmates decided to do it for him. They collected a truck load and a half of items to donate in his
memory. They presented hundreds of bags of clothes and various items to donate and brought them to the altar at the memorial mass. As Eric's mother, I was very touched by what the students at Marian High School had done. I decided that this would be a beautiful way to honor Eric by creating a legacy of love and kindness to others in our community.

In 2003, other Catholic Schools became involved. In 2004, the number of Catholic Schools participating in "Eric's Promise" had grown. In addition to Marian High School, participating schools included St. Joseph High School, St. Joe Grade School in South Bend, Holy Cross, St. Stanislaus Kostka in New Carlisle, St. Adalbert's, St. Monica and St. Bavo in Mishawaka, St. Thomas School in Elkhart, Our Lady of Hungary, Corpus Christi, St. John the Baptist and St. Matthew's Grade School. We have invited all of these schools and their CCD classes to participate again this year as well as other church and youth groups in our community. The "Minnie Vinnies" of Salem, Oregon also had a collection and made donations to the St. Vincent De Paul Society in Oregon!

Eric's 4 bags have multiplied by the hundreds. I know Eric would be very happy to know that other students are carrying out what he wanted to do. Thousands of pounds of donated items, cash donations and a car have been donated to the St. Vincent De Paul Society as a result of Eric's Promise. Because of your generosity many of those in need in our community will be helped and Eric's spirit will live on.

Thanks to all of you for making "Eric's Promise" a successful Lenten project.

                      Sincerely, Mary Molnar
                                      (Eric Henry's mother)