Catholic Schools Updates

7 Learning Life and Dignity At Holy Spirit School, Rochester

Marsha Stenzel Superintendent of Catholic Schools mstenzel@dowr.org

By CHRIS SMITH

God, we know you created all of humanity in your image and likeness. Help us to always see you in the faces of our classmates, teachers, family members and friends. Help us to follow you. Amen. �ach month at Holy Spirit Catholic School, we focus on a principle of Catholic Social Teaching, and we ask students and teachers in two grade levels to visit Madonna Towers, an established continuing care retirement community, in northwest Rochester.

Recently, we focused on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person. The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching (USCCB, 7 Themes of Catholic Social Teaching). The principle of Life and Dignity of the Human Person recognizes that because we are all made in the image and likeness of God, we all have the fundamental dignity and rights to basic human necessities.

Recently, our kindergarten and third-grade students traveled to Madonna Towers to continue our partnership with the residents there. Our purpose for partnering with Madonna Towers is simple. We seek to take the love of Christ in our hearts and share it beyond the walls of our school with the residents at Madonna Towers. Our students gain as much or even more from this experience than the residents they interact with. Our students learn that everyone matters. They experience first hand that all people are made in the image of God. They come to understand that all people have dignity; all people should be valued and respected.

Students and residents interacted through song, crafts, and conversation. It was only for a short time, but the minutes they shared had an impact.

Melinda Rud, wellness coordinator for Madonna Towers, said, “I really appreciate all the time and effort that it takes to have the Holy Spirit students come to Madonna Towers. I have heard nothing but great feedback from the residents! Thank you. We would love for you to come and visit the rest of the school year.”

Jaci Jurgenson, third-grade teacher, said, “Madonna Towers went extremely well today. Every single resident asked me if the kids could come back soon. Ms. Rud asked about being penpals, if we could do a Mass there, if we would come back and do other activities. The pairing was perfect!”

Annalenna Tonelli, a servant of the poor who spent most of her life serving those in need in Africa, reminds us:

[Those] who count for nothing in the eyes of the world, but so much in the eyes of God . . . have need of us, and we must be with them and for them, and it doesn’t matter at all if our action is like a drop of water in the ocean. Jesus Christ did not speak about results. He only spoke about loving each other, about washing each other’s feet, of forgiving each other always. What Tonelli speaks of is what our goal is for our

Austin KCs Sponsor Poster and Essay Contests Submitted by JEAN MCDERMOTT AUSTIN - Representatives from the Austin Area Knights of Columbus Council 1201 awarded certificates and prizes to elementary, middle school and high school students who were finalists in the local Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest and Citizenship Essay Contest. Students were recognized after the all-school Mass celebrated during Catholic Schools Week at Pacelli Catholic Schools.

The goal of the Knights of Columbus essay contest is to give students the opportunity to define the role of a Catholic citizen in many different scenarios and to strengthen the bond between the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic community and Pacelli Catholic Schools. Senior Rory Bickler placed first in the high school essay contest and received $50. 8th graders Andrew Frederick (1st place) and Avari Drennan (2nd place) were awarded $50 and $30, respectively, for their winning middle school essays. They are pictured top with KC representatives Ryan Bickler and Neil Drees. The Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest was open to all boys and girls ages 5-14. The students developed original posters and slogans to help remind us that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. First ($30), second ($20), and third ($10) place were awarded in three age brackets to the following students: Age 5-7; Nataly Gomez Munoz (1st), Aubrey Roehl (2nd), Diego Ortiz Reyes (3rd): Age 8-10; Kiara Hernandez (1st), Kaitlyn McMahon (2nd), Marlie Klankowski (3rd): Age 11-14; Lydia Dress (1st), Coral Alfaro Hernandez (2nd), Atem Achuoth (3rd). They are pictured bottom with KC representatives Ryan Bickler and Neil Drees.

Each of these contests were conducted at the local level with the first-place entries advancing to a district competition. There is opportunity to continue to state, national and international levels of recognition. Congratulations to all participants and good luck to our district finalists. Jean McDermott is the principal of Pacelli Schools in Austin.

students. To help them realize that the people who count for nothing, the people who may be forgotten or pushed to the side are the very people we need to share our lives with. This is where our faith comes to life and changes lives, no matter how small our actions, no matter how young or old the participants are, God’s love and mercy prevail, enrich, transform, and cleanse us anew.

Thank you for supporting our efforts at Holy Spirit and all Catholic schools to teach our children a living faith, a faith that is active in our daily lives, in our relationships with others, and in our community. My hope is that this new generation- the generation of children now enrolled at Holy Spirit, will be the ones who humbly surrender their lives to build God’s Kingdom of love, justice, and peace in a world that so desperately needs transformation. Eternal God, Creator and Sustainer of life, bless us with the courage to defend all life from conception to natural death. Bless us with the strength to respect all peoples from east to west, from north to south, so that we may truly follow the call of Jesus to be good neighbors. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Chris Smith is the principal of Holy Spirit School in Rochester.