When Sacred Heart Preschool was a Convent.

Although the Stears Center is used for Sacred Heart Preschool, the scouts and TEEN Faith, it was built as a home for the sisters who taught at the school. Sr. Delores, who taught at the school form 1980-87 once lived here. When she visited Monday she was able to give Mrs. Crnkovich a new perspective on the building she has worked in for years.

The kitchen hasn't changed much. They even suspect a few cups were left behind.

In the picture above, Sr. Delores is in what was the chapel and wanted to peek into what was once the confessional.

There were once rooms for eight sisters. When Sr. Delores was here, she was one of two sisters who taught at the school. There would also be other sisters who might be studying at Creighton or doing other work in the area. As Benedictines they also provided hospitality to sisters (from their community or others) who were visiting the area.

Most of the walls have been torn down to create bigger rooms, but one of the rooms left is the room where Sr. Delores lived. It was a small room with her own sink/wash area. (The colors have changed.) She also told of how, while the rectory was redone, Fr. Steinhausen and the associate lived in their basement.

She spoke with some of the students in what used to be her living room. She even pointed out where the birdcage with her canaries had been.

She spent some time telling the students about how she lived here and taught at the school. She showed some pictures of her family, told how she grew up at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and told about life in her Benedictine community in Atchison, Kansas.

She also emphasized how we need to like a pecan -- open to God and willing to listen. She also taught how important it is that we spend a great deal of time with God in prayer so that we can know Him.

Thank you Sr. Delores!

100 Days of School

Today was the 100th day of the school year at St. Columbkille Catholic School. Our Kindergarten students has a big celebration. There were "100" hats. Some students put 100 stickers on them.

100 pieces of cereal were strung together.

 We had a lot of fun!

 

 



Visiting for Catholic Schools Week

Our alumni helped kick off Catholic

Schools Week by gathering today.

Sr. Delores Dolezal who taught at St. Columbkille
Catholic School from 1980 to 1987 was here.

Sr. Delores was delighted to see three of

her former students who all teach now.

It was fun to gather and remember.

Walking for Life

It was dusk this morning when a busload of folks left for Lincoln.

Fr. Wee led the group in prayer and the rosary as we left.

The time in Lincoln began with Mass at St. Mary's, which is across the street from the capital. The church was packed with a large group of concelbrants and standing room only.

Then there was a program outside the capital ...

 ... under the statue of Lincoln.

Then the walk began.

 The walk ended at the UNL student center.

There Ryan Bomberger of the The Radiance Foundation spoke of his group and how they are working to illuminate the intrinsic value each person possesses, educate about pressing societal issues and how they impact the understanding of God-given Purpose, and motivate people to positively affect their families, their schools and their communities.

Thank you to eveyone who walked!

Modeling the Chapel

The photo above is from an April, 1982 Papillion Times story on our church which was about to be dedicated. The model was created by our architect to help visualize the new church.

It turns out the architect still has the model, and he modified it so we could get a better understanding of his proposal for a new chapel. (Although he did not provide model people that could be situated within.)

His proposal is that the "alcove" to the north of the altar area be enclosed with a wall of etched glass and a tabernacle in the center. This would be so prominent that there would not be a need offset the Ascending Christ image above the choir area.

The back wall of the alcove would be removed and the area would expanded. 15 to 20 people would be able to pray in the chapel together. But it would be primarily used for Eucharistic Adoration. A new tabernacle would be installed where those in the chapel could view the host inside the tabernacle through bulletproof glass. There are similar tabernacles in parishes like St. Robert's and Holy Cross. The back wall would be even with the wall of the current back sacristy. There would also be stained glass windows installed.

So be certain to let Fr. Damian and/or members of the pastoral council what you think!

Pajama Day at Preschool

This week our preschoolers have been learning about the letter “P.” 

We started the week by making pizza.

Today we had a pajama day.

It was fun to come to school in our pajamas.

We even had pancakes for snack.

At the end of the day, we remembered a

special word that starts with “P”…prayer.

Is Following Our Conscience Important?

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), sharply criticized the decision by the Obama administration in which it “ordered almost every employer and insurer in the country to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, in their health plans.” He made the statement in a web video.

“Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn’t happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights,” Cardinal-designate Dolan said.

On January 20, Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Health and Human Services, announced that non-profit employers will have one year to comply with the new rule.

Cardinal-designate Dolan urged Catholics and the public at large to speak out in protest.

“Let your elected leaders know that you want religious liberty and rights of conscience restored and that you want the administration’s contraceptive mandate rescinded,” he said.

Confirmation Preparation

Sunday night confirmation candidates and their parents gathered for the third of five preparation sessions. Deacon Hill led a prayer service and reflection. Then Fr. Damian spoke to the group about Sacraments. Then candidates and their parents gathered around tables for small group faith sharing.

Here is an excerpt from Fr. Damian's talk:

Today is A Day of Penance

2011 March for Life

Dear Friends,

Thirty-nine years ago, while I was a senior in high school, the Supreme Court ruled that a right to privacy under the due process clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution extends to a woman's decision to have an abortion. As a young person, I was very optimistic that we, as a country, would be able to undo that decision; that we would pass an amendment to the constitution which would define and protect human life. There was a lot of energy in the early days to pass such an amendment to the Constitution. Congress has discussed the possibility of a Human Life Amendment to the constitution over the years, but it has not really been seriously looked at since 1983 when the Hatch-Eagleton version failed to pass the Senate. Since then, our country’s political leadership has failed to lead an effective fight to protect human life. It gets talked about a lot, but no one really does much to change anything. Everyone keeps pointing the finger at the opposition and saying they’re the problem.

The Bishops of the United States have asked us to observe a Day of Penance on Monday. Certainly we, as a church, will continue to fight for the dignity of every human life in the public arena, but prayer and penance are valuable tools in the life of faith, as Pope John Paul II taught:

Filled with this certainty, and moved by profound concern for the destiny of every man and woman, I repeat what I said to those families who carry out their challenging mission amid so many difficulties: a great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer.

Jesus himself has shown us by his own example that prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil (cf. Mt 4:1-11). As he taught his disciples, some demons cannot be driven out except in this way (cf. Mk 9:29).

Let us therefore discover anew the humility and the courage to pray and fast so that power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit: the walls which conceal from the sight of so many of our brothers and sisters the evil of practices and laws which are hostile to life. May this same power turn their hearts to resolutions and goals inspired by the civilization of life and love.

There are many different ways of observing this national day of prayer and penance. You could refrain from eating something that day or go without a meal in solidarity with those who suffer. You could pray a rosary or chaplet for the unborn. You could pray for those who have been wounded by abortion, or visit and pray before the Blessed Sacrament, or read and reflect on Pope John Paul II’s encyclical on life, Evangelium Vitae, or offer your time to someone in need of a kind word or a listening ear.

 

Maybe I was naïve and overly optimistic thirty-nine years ago, but I have not given up hope. We have made so much progress in so many other areas in our country and in our world. Perhaps, this one will simply take longer. Abortions have been declining since 1990, but there are still too many happening each year. Maybe your prayer tomorrow will help a profound respect for all human life dwell in the hearts of others.

Peace,
Fr. Damian

The Benedictines are Coming

Sr. Delores Dolezal, OSB and some of her students

It was the Benedictine Sisters from Atchinson, Kansas who provided all of the teachers in our school when it began in 1916. The first lay teacher was hired in 1962 and Sr. Delores was one of the last two Benedictine teachers in 1987.

Sister Delores, Sister Judy Sutera, OSB and Sister Barbara Smith will be here next Sunday. There will be two events on Sunday, then they will visit with the students in our school on Monday. Ther Sunday events are:

2:00 "Benedictine Education: Then and Now" a presentation by Sr. Judy Sutera, OSB in the Steinhausen Center

3:00 A gathering of Alumni in the school

Quilting

A number of women came out today to help

 First Communion families prepare quilts as

 milestones of the big event this spring.

Every second grade student who wishes
to participate decorates a number of blocks.
These are incorporated into a quilt.

Thank you all!

New Staff

Glenda McKenna is joining our staff in the Parish Office. She is learning about the parish now as she will work with Judy in the office about 20 hours a week. She is also working part time for IXIM.

Since David Batter left for another position and because we have not hired anyone on a full-time basis yet,. In the meantime we have decided to hire someone to work part time with our Liturgy and Music. It is very unlikely that a full time person will be hired before Easter. Our interim liturgist is:

... David Batter.

So make Glenda and David feel welcome when you see them.

Comfort or Joy?

One of the discussion questions at That Man is You! (TMIY!)

today was: "When have you chosen comfort over joy?"

TMIY! meets Thursday at 6 am in the Steinhausen Center.

First Teachers

Parents are rightly called the first teachers of their child's faith.

On Monday, and again tonight, parents and second grade

students are exploring their faith as the students

prepare for their First Reconciliation.

At a variety of educations centers families did

activities together to stimulate the process.

It was a good way to grow together.