By Deacon James N. Dunbar
FALL RIVER, Mass. — The theme logo for Catholic Schools Week 2009 carries the words “Celebrate Service” — the “T” in the word formed as a cross — and showing hands reaching out and surrounding a globe.
According to teachers and principals who contacted The Anchor as local schools join in the annual Catholic Schools Week observance January 25-31, the logo perfectly captures their goal to not only instill life-long Gospel values to their charges in a Christ-centered academic community, but also to inspire them to carry that message into the marketplace for the good of all mankind.
Taking a cue from that, The Anchor posed this question to the educators: “How does your school try to inspire its students to imitate Christ who came to serve and not to be served?”
Noting that Christian service is a hallmark of Catholic education, the reports from Fall River diocesan elementary, middle and high school administrators proudly told of their students eagerly participating in a variety of faith-driven service projects that affect so many.
Those range from collecting canned goods for the homeless; assisting and donating to food pantries; visiting the homebound and those in nursing homes; sending goodwill messages and materials to their marginalized peers in mission parishes and even visiting them; various grass roots fund-raising endeavors, and offering their Masses and prayers as well.
Michael Scanlan, principal at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River, said his school’s mission “is to be not only hearers, but doers of the Word. We try to inculcate the values of a muscular, active Catholic Christianity in our students, one in which love of and service to others are key components.”
He said the emphasis on caring for others manifests itself most clearly in a four-year sequence of service requirements for students “in which students and faculty go beyond what is required of them and attempt to imitate the example of Christ by engaging in countless acts of service … and creating an environment which fosters a commitment to putting the needs of others before our own.”
At St. Stanislaus School in Fall River, Principal Jean Willis made it clear that “our service must flow from our baptismal commitment and our relationship with Christ, who pours out his love on us. Rooted in him, we cannot help but serve.”
She added, “At St. Stan’s, we begin with prayer and study of Scripture, so that our service has depth and meaning. Our students are taught that we don’t do things for others just because it’s the right thing or it makes us feel good. Students are encouraged to look around them through the merciful eyes of Christ and to put other’s needs before their own.”
Through their study of current events, students become aware of needs in the local and global communities and organize service projects to address some of those needs, which include food and clothing drives, school supplies for the missions and making hygiene bags for the diocesan AIDS Ministry, Willis reported.
The 2009 theme links to a recently completed National Catholic Educational Association initiative, “Birthday Blessings for Pope Benedict.”
During the pope’s April 2008 visit to the United States, Catholic youth were asked to pledge hours of community service to honor the pope’s 81st birthday, and more than two million hours of service were pledged.
And students aren’t just sitting back and enjoying the opportunity to grow in and enjoy the joys of the faith preparing them for their life as living stones in the Church.
On Wednesday in Catholic Schools Week, students traditionally observe National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools. On that day, student delegations meet on Capitol Hill in Washington to deliver packets of information about the good news of Catholic Education to U.S. congressional leaders.
And on January 22, hundreds of students from the diocese will take a recess from the classroom and take a tiring bus trip to Washington for the annual March for Life to demonstrate once again against the dreadful 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal in the United States, and add their pilgrim prayers and pleas for national leaders to change their outlook to favoring respect for life at all stages.
Kathleen A. Burt, principal at SS. Peter and Paul School in Fall River, said the goal “is to encourage our students to put their faith in action and follow Christ’s example in all they do. We remind them to be his light today by bringing his love, compassion and mercy to others through the gift of service — to Church, family, school, community and our global family throughout the world.”
Denise Peixoto, principal at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro, speaking of the various community service projects in which her students and staff participate, asked, “What better, more effective way to inspire students and teach them to imitate Christ than to model service as a way to live your life teaching by example?”
At Holy Name School in Fall River, Principal Patricia M. Wardell said the importance of serving others as students develop a relationship with Jesus not only in prayer but is seen in programs that finds them assisting absent students and their families with assignments, paired with younger students as prayer partners, reading 100 books thereby enabling books to be sent to a Navajo reservation, raising funds to purchase clothing for the needy as well as scholarships for the Diocesan Mission in Honduras.
Students entering St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro are greeted by the saint’s words “Little children, love one another,” and they constantly undertake projects to show that love and support, reported Sister Mary Jane Holden, the principal.
“They support our parish food and coat drives, they funded tuition to the Catholic school in Honduras, and some have even substituted birthday gifts and Christmas presents with requests for donations,” she said.
“The most rewarding projects the students undertake are those initiated by the students themselves,” explained Sister Holden. “When this happens, it shows they have truly received and understood the message: ‘Whatever you do for the least of my people, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40).
Providing a safe and loving environment where students learn academics, what’s more important is one in which they become good Catholics and good citizens, said Daphne Costa, principal at St. Mary’s School in New Bedford.
“They will learn to help their neighbors, be kind, patient and responsible; they will learn to imitate Christ in all they do,” Costa said. “As educators, we will foster this growth every step of the way, by modeling Catholic values and using teachable moments to discuss ‘What would Jesus do?’ when faced with a difficult decision.”
Patricia Marmen, principal at St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth, said that as its students grow in their faith, they are called be Christ-like to others and that is what makes their Love in Action Service Project more meaningful.
“We point out that the words of Jesus: ‘You are the light of the world, let your light shine before men, that they many see your good works and give glory to God,’ are meant to inspire our students to imitate Christ who came to serve,” she added.
Catholic Schools Week is a joint project of the NCEA and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Schools typically celebrate Catholic Schools Week with Masses, open houses and registration of new families, activities for students and families such as book and science fairs, games and other entertainment, as well as lunches and events for administrators, faculty, school staff and the community.
As part of that, The Anchor sponsored an essay contest for Catholic school students in the Fall River Diocese, as well as an Artwork contest. Winning essays and art appear in today’s edition.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE 2009 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK SUPPLEMENT.