The Ash Wednesday homily at our parish by Vincentian Father Kevin McCracken, a professor at St. John's Seminary, was clear, simple and inspiring.

Father McCracken's main point, or at least the point I heard, was that regardless of the practice assumed for Lent, it is important for change to occur so there is a sense of spiritual growth and movement closer to God. In offering practical suggestions for Lenten sacrifices, he stressed that almsgiving need not necessarily be about sharing money but could be interpreted to mean sharing of oneself. There was plenty of food for thought as we left the church and hurried back to the tasks of daily living.

Coincidentally, or perhaps because the Holy Spirit is always at work, I got a call that evening about a small Catholic elementary school in Watts that is in desperate need of alms so they can complete the school year successfully. It is the kind of story that offers an ideal Lenten opportunity to share both alms (money) and oneself.

San Miguel School has an enrollment of 197 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The majority of students come from families new to the United States, primarily Mexico and Central and South America. The families struggle to make ends meet. They have few material things and work long hours. Their lives are not easy. Yet they are kind, hospitable and happy people.

The Presentation Sisters, committed to serving new immigrants to this country, have created a Leaning Center at San Miguel for the parents so they can learn along with their children. As children study math and science, parents have the opportunity to learn to read, write and speak English, sew, use a computer and study the material necessary to become citizens of the Untied States. Together the school and the learning center are a warm, safe haven, in an unsafe area of the city.

However, despite the good work by the sisters, dedicated principal Jesus Vasquez and the teachers, the school is financially constrained, having had to recently consolidate two grades into one classroom, and may have to consolidate again. Mr. Vasquez is adamant that this not happen because it is not the best learning environment for the children.

Tuition, although only $145 per month, well below the cost of most Catholic schools, cuts into the budgets of these families in a way that most of us cannot imagine, yet many of the families will do just about anything to be sure their children can attend San Miguel School. It is not uncommon to see yard sales in the schoolyard on a Sunday afternoon as parents try to come up with money for tuition and supplies. This past weekend enough money was raised to buy five new basketballs.

The school is well maintained and the teachers well educated. The budget, however, fluctuates because of the parent's inability to pay tuition on a regular basis. This makes it very difficult to keep salaries and programs current. Vasquez is fearful that teachers when they finish their master's level studies will move to schools that can pay them better salaries. He has initiated a weekly tuition plan that is proving easier for the parents.

I cannot help but think that, we, the larger Catholic community can help San Miguel School continue and flourish. Creating an adopt-a-child program and paying monthly tuition for that child or volunteering to research and write a grant, or donating pens, pencils, paper, books and sporting equipment might be a different way to follow the Lenten practice of giving alms.

While it is true that foundations help schools such as San Miguel, they cannot cover all the expenses. Is it possible for those of us who live far away from the center of the city and enjoy the benefits of well-funded parishes and parish schools to offer San Miguel a helping hand in a quiet and private way as part of our Lenten sacrifice this year? It could bring the change that Father McCracken talked about on Ash Wednesday.

If you can help, San Miguel School is located at 2270 E.108th St., Los Angles 90059 and can be reached at (323) 567-6892. Anne Hansen is a parent education consultant and a parishioner at Blessed Junípero Serra Church, Camarillo. Her e-mail address is familymail@aol.com.