Our Lenten Journey at St. Mary School

By Helene Sullivan, teacher

On March 1, Ash Wednesday, St Mary School attended Mass. Our third graders led us in this celebration. We received ashes and began our celebration of the season of Lent.

During Lent, our students will participate in the Adopt-a-student in Haiti Program. This program offers financial assistance and prayer support for children in Haiti to attend school. For the past seven years, students have earned, saved and donated money to 'adopt' four to six students in Haiti.

In Haiti, tuition and related costs necessary to keep a child in school are $125 annually. This provides the child with tuition, uniform, shoes, books and one hot meal each day. Some of our students have earned money by babysitting, doing chores, shoveling snow, giving entertaining performances for friends and neighbors and charging admission, giving a part of their allowance or by asking family and friends to help. Each child, who would like to participate, will be giving a "love loaf" to bring home to save money in. the "love loaf" may be brought in to school on Monday, April 10.

Each year our sixth and seventh graders participate in Mass at St. Paul's Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Rueger. The Mass is scheduled for Thursday, March 30. The Mass is aired live on local television.

Friday, March 24, Grade eight will also go to St. Paul's Cathedral for the Mass for Life celebrated by bishop McManus.

As in past years, we have been invited to bring our classes to church on Friday, March 24, to pray the rosary and to pray for the Respect for all Life. Grade 5, 6 and 7 will attend the rosary and Adoration in the morning.

During Lent, students in grades 5-8 will have the opportunity to celebrate reconciliation with Fr. Mike and Fr. Manny. This will be on a Wednesday morning, date to be scheduled.

Bishop McManus will be visiting our school on April 7. Bishop will celebrate Mass with the school at 8:30 a.m.

On April 13, Holy Thursday, we will gather together to pray the Stations of the Cross.