Fifth-grade retreat (photo courtesy of PES Sisters)
By Sister Lynn, PES
This story first appeared in the Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools Annual Report in August
The culture of missionary discipleship has taken root in Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools. From visits before the second graders’ first reconciliation to small group discussions with the central office staff, the students, staff and families are being formed in their call to be a missionary disciple.
Central to the Christian life is the call of Jesus to “Go make disciples” (Mt 28:19). This lifelong call was not limited to the first Twelve Apostles but has extended through the Church for over 2,000 years. Now, with the New Evangelization, the need for active missionary disciples is more necessary than ever.
The students at all of the schools within Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools participate in this missionary call. Each elementary school has the opportunity to create bridges of faith within their student body. For example, at St. Mary’s Elementary, all the students are grouped into faith families who meet throughout the year to share about topics of our Catholic faith. The 4th-6th grade students have a special session with the Pro Ecclesia Sancta Sisters at the beginning of the school year to learn about their important role as the older students in these groups. At Holy Spirit, there has been a strong emphasis on prayer, where students pray for each other and staff members pray for the students’ family members.
At their own school, junior high students are leading their peers in the faith throughout the year. The peer ministers led a 7th grade lock-in for over 100 students, where they engaged in activities, served at Mass, led small groups and gave their own faith testimony.
Wade Charron, principal at O’Gorman Junior High, noted, “I believe this year, our peer ministry program that the chaplain, sisters and campus minister lead has really taken off. I really like to see the peer ministry students take on leadership roles, not only at the junior high but with outreach opportunities. When you have to teach about Christ, you really get to know him.”
Peer minister students have also visited the elementary schools to help teach prayer stations and lead mini-retreats for the 6th graders. These students also led Stations of the Cross throughout the lenten season, speaking in front of the entire student body. Wade also commented on how these visible witnesses of the faith have changed the culture of the school.
“When kids see other students stepping out of their comfort zone, others might be more likely to do the same, so if they can look to their classmates and see that they are having a relationship with Christ, that they’re in the chapel, that they’re leading other students, they think: ‘I want to be like that,’” Wade said, adding that the entire culture of the school has changed, and it is a more joyful place now with Christ at the center.
At the high school, students across all grades are engaging in missionary discipleship. The freshmen helped lead their younger peers in the 8th-grade retreat, sophomores are facilitating bimonthly small groups at the junior high, and upperclassmen are leading at the 5th-grade retreat and giving their personal testimony of faith in their friendships. With such a range of opportunities, many students are now asking to take part in these activities. Their own friendship with Christ is blossoming, fruit of their gift to their younger peers.
Brenna Kestel, a senior at O’Gorman High School, said that she has lived out her call to missionary discipleship by being a part of the campus ministry team, leading a small group with underclassmen, helping at The Well, giving a talk at the 5th-grade retreat, and sharing her testimony with the Confirmation class at her own parish.
“Being involved with the sisters has given us many opportunities to be missionary disciples,” Brenna said. “In sharing my testimony, I was able to reflect on how much I have grown in my faith since Confirmation, and hopefully that helps other people in their faith journey, too.”
Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools staff are not excluded from living out their call to discipleship and learning more about how they can share their faith in all areas of their lives. At the high school, theology teacher Rochelle Lauret facilitates a faculty faith sharing twice a month where all staff members have an open place to grow in their friendship with Christ. Additionally, monthly spiritual formation meetings are provided for the principals, cabinet members and central office staff who are not only learning about how to be a missionary disciple, but are putting it into practice. The central office staff meets monthly for small groups to share their faith experiences and learn from each other.
Becca Thiry, enrollment coordinator, noted, “I think it speaks volumes of the environment that there is a lot of trust and feeling like we can call each other higher and point each other back to Jesus. Having a space where we can talk about faith is so unique in a workplace.” She also mentioned how the True Vine program has allowed co-workers to share about their faith, ask for prayer intentions or simply mention a Bible verse that is on their mind.
Other staff members are also witnessing the missionary call to live out the Gospel in each of their work areas and beyond. Teresa Hulscher, principal of St. Michael Elementary, said, “Missionary discipleship has shaped St. Michael School into a faith-filled family. Staff and families share a mission for their students and every student is seen as a gift.”
Al Costanzo, art teacher at the junior high and high school, noted that he sees staff members living out the missionary call in “modeling the virtues and holding students to the highest standards.”
Regan Manning, principal of Holy Spirit Elementary, said he has witnessed a greater bond between Holy Spirit Parish and Holy Spirit Elementary through the various relationship ministry opportunities available. “From my assessment, it appears that more of our families are participating and realizing the importance of attending Sunday Mass,” he said.
Students, teachers, staff and families are all growing stronger in their call to be witnesses of the Gospel.
“We are all missionary disciples,” wrote Pope Francis and, “Proclaiming Christ means showing that to believe in and to follow him is not only something right and true, but also something beautiful, capable of filling life with new splendour and profound joy (Evangelii Gaudium 129). This joyful proclamation is seen at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools and is changing the culture of each workplace and learning environment. May the example of the students and staff encourage each of us to also respond to the missionary call: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15).
