Four Catholic schools converge to celebrate their Catholic identity and their call to be saints
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The Lord of the Dance was front and center, moving their hearts and minds and feet.
Students of St. George School in Linn, St. Mary School in Frankenstein, Holy Family School in Freeburg and Sacred Heart School in Rich Fountain got together to celebrate Catholic Schools Week Feb. 2 in Linn.
Children from all grade levels in each school took turns leading the prayers of a living Rosary in the St. George School Gym, followed by festivities galore and an animated discussion about how to become a saint.
Lisa Grellner, principal of the Linn and Frankenstein schools, reminded the students of Bishop W. Shawn McKnight’s homily from Mass the previous Sunday.
“He was talking about being part of the greater Church,” she recalled, “that we are one of many, that we are part of a Church that is universal.
“Our universal Church doesn’t stop at St. George or St. Mary or Holy Family or Sacred Heart,” she noted. “It’s really an honor for us to be a part of something so much bigger than we are.
“So we gather today not only to celebrate our Catholic Schools, but to celebrate our Universal Church, together,” she said.
Guests at the celebration included Erin Vader Ed.D., diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Father Paul Clark, chaplain of Helias Catholic High School and diocesan vocation director, director of seminarians and moderator of youth and young adult ministry.
“There are a lot of things we need to pray the Rosary for,” Mrs. Grellner noted. “We all have people in our hearts and in our minds who desperately need our prayers.”
Joyful noise
She asked the students to pray especially for priests and religious, for continued vocations, for continued success of Catholic schools “and for all of us to be the best that we can be.”
Following the Rosary, younger students adjourned to a bevy of games in the St. George School Gym, while the older students went to the cafeteria for an animated discussion with Fr. Clark.
Halfway through the event, the groups switched.
“Please be sure to spend some time with somebody you’ve never met before and get to know them,” Mrs. Grellner suggested.
Students in the gym played hockey with short sticks while scooting on little floor carts; played pickleball; tossed beanbags; bounced dozens of rubber balls up and down on a large, colorful parachute; and took part in relay races on inflated bouncy toys.
Their laughter was deafening.
Created for heaven
Fr. Clark told the students in his audience that he wasn’t there just to celebrate Catholics schools with them.
“We’re also celebrating who we are and more importantly, whose we are,” he stated.
He said his job as diocesan vocation director is to help people who are asking God to make known to them what he wants them to do with their lives.
“Doing what God is calling you to do is what’s going to make you happiest in life,” said Fr. Clark.
He engaged in a lively question-and-answer session about the ways God might be talking to them — through their parents, teachers and other trusted adults; in their prayers; and in their reading of the Bible.
“Sometimes when we pray, do we just speak the whole time? We need to listen, too!” the priest stated. “Because God might be speaking back to us and wanting something.”
He told them about the excitement and contentment he experienced when he thought about being a priest, knowing that priests get to be themselves and enjoy life.
“Priests don’t have to become something they’re not,” he noted. “They’re just fully themselves. And I felt like, in my heart, I kind of like that! And my heart felt this peace and this joy.”
He spent his first few years in the seminary asking God to help him know whether he should be a priest.
“And the more time I spent there, the more joyful my heart became, so I know that this is what God wanted for me all along,” said Fr. Clark.
He reminded the students that when they pray, it’s good to jump into the Bible, aware that God might be using it to speak back to them.
“And maybe there are angels or saints that are telling us things God wants us to hear,” he added. “Because ultimately, as members of a Catholic school, of the universal Church we’re part of the Communion of Saints.”
“You’re part of a big body of Christ!” he said. “So not only does it include every member of the Church, who is on this world now, but it also includes the saints in heaven!
“And you and I, we’re all called to be saints!” he reminded them.
He explained that who they are is determined by the God who crated them, and he is their Father.
“He sent his Son to literally give his life for us,” the priest noted. “That’s a lot of love! And he did it for each and every one of you. And even if you were the only person who existed, you are his only beloved son or daughter, he would do it for you. He loves you that much.
“That’s awesome!” he said. “That’s a great relationship that we’re a part of!”
Saints in training
Fr. Clark reminded the students that they are constantly hearing messages about who they are and what they’re supposed to become.
Not all of those messages are from God. They must learn to pray and find out for themselves what God has in mind for them, beginning with the understanding that he created them and wants nothing but what’s best for them — ultimately, eternity in heaven.
“It’s important that when you hear God, he’s telling you how to be a saint,” said Fr. Clark. “And if we’re going to be saints, we’re going to be forever where? Heaven!”
Following the talk, he put on his sunglasses, turned on flashing lights and moved into D.J. mode, playing popular dance music.
The students sang along, threw up their arms, showed off their moves in unison and formed conga lines through the impromptu dance floor.
“For me, this was a preview of heaven!” said Fr. Clark.
He reminded them that heaven is going to be the greatest fulfillment of their hearts.
“The things that we love the most, we’re going to have the fullness of those for all eternity,” he said.
“It’s going to be incredible. And I want to be there with all of you!” he said. “So let’s be saints! Let’s strive to be saints. Because it’s going to be great, and I want us to experience it together.”
