CATHOLIC IDENTITY AND SPIRITUAL ROOM PARENTS

BY DAWN HELWIG

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI Elementary School is known for providing an outstanding Catholic, wholechild education for preschool through eighth-grade students. The faculty, staff and administration are dedicated to shaping each student’s unique abilities by offering leadership opportunities both in and outside of the classroom. The school community talks about the “Spirit of St. Francis” and you feel it when you step foot on this campus.

The principal, Mrs. Jeannette Lambert noted, “We work on holy ground here. You feel the charism of our patron, St. Francis, in the work of the people in this community. It cannot be described but must be experienced.”

The Spiritual Room Parents was established in 2005 by a group of moms who desired to make a difference in the spiritual lives of the school community. They established key activities that have fed and nourished the spiritual growth of the community for the past 18 years. The Spiritual Room Parents were welcomed during the 2022-2023 school year at a special Commissioning Mass celebrated at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Yorba Linda, where they received a blessing from Msgr. Stephen Doktorczyk, along with blessed pins. The celebration included time together to pray and plan out the year ahead, with a focus on the ways God is calling them to provide the students with joy, the love of Christ, and a future full of hope.

This group of volunteers brings the “Spirit of St. Francis” to life with their work throughout the year. The Spiritual Room Parents are one of many active groups of believers within the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Identity Ministry, established many years ago to intentionally foster and support the work of faith formation both with the students at school and with the families at home.

Traditional Room Parents are still present on campus, assisting the teachers with parties, activities and fundrais- ers, but the work of the Spiritual Room Parents calls for a deep commitment to pray for the families, faculty and students throughout the year.

Under the umbrella of our Catholic Identity Ministry, Spiritual Room Parents are actively engaged in everything from daily prayers to providing faith-based student experiences on and off campus as they collaborate with the teachers and staff throughout the year. They attend monthly Eucharistic adoration on campus, host spirit-led activities, participate in Daily Class Mass at Santa Clara de Asís Church and most importantly they are praying the students to heaven. C

May Crowning

In honor of May being the Month of Mary, Bishop Vann presided over St. Anne’s May Crowning Mass along with Fr. Mario.

The all-school Mass led by second grade through eighth-grade students, was attended by parents and special guests.

Donor Wall Unveiling

After Mass, the unveiling of St. Anne’s Donor Wall took place before all those in attendence. The wall recognizes those who have supported St. Anne over the years.