Moving Day

This is the 100th year of at what is now called St. Columbkille Catholic School. When the Benedictine sisters arrived for the first year of school, the building wasn’t ready yet. So Sr. Celestine, Sr. Victoria and Sr. Amelourga stayed in the rectory while Fr Holheisel moved into the sacristy. The sisters taught in the church with the kids sitting on the kneelers and using the pew as a desk starting on August 23rd. Today, October 12th, was moving day. Finally the sisters could move to the school and Fr. Holheisel could move back into the rectory.

Of course the furnace wouldn't be added to the school until November.

Why the Cot?

This is the 100th year of at what is now called St. Columbkille Catholic School. When the Benedictine sisters arrived for the first year of school, the building wasn’t ready yet. So Sr. Celestine, Sr. Victoria and Sr. Amelourga stayed in the rectory while Fr Holheisel moved into the sacristy. The sisters taught in the church with the kids sitting on the kneelers and using the pew as a desk from August until October 12th when the school was done (the furnace would be added in November.)

Imagine sleeping on a cot like this from August to October! (It might not have been this nice,) We have it in the entryway of the parish to help the students imagine it.

Here is a picture of Fr. Henry Holheisel who was out pastor from 1897 until 1940. While he was pastor the school was begun. About seven years later the new (second) church was built on the same block as well as a rectory.

St. Scholastica

When the Bendictine Sisters visited last week, they told each class the story of St. Benedict and St. Scholastic who were twins. Because women weren't allowed in school, Scholastica's parents hired a tutor so she could be educated as well.

After Benedict started his community of men, Scholastica began a community of women. Because they both lived a monastic life, they did not see each other very often. Once a year they would meet in between their communities and talk of spiritual things. One year Scholastica wanted to remain and talk with her brother all night. He said no, because he had to return. Scholastica bowed her head and prayed.

A rain storm immediatly appeared and Benedict was forced to stay with his sister.

Reading for the Sisters

We appreciate that the Benedictine Community of Atchison, Kansas was kind enough to share Sister Judith, Sister Barbara and Sister Judith with us this week. It made us appreciate how the Benedictine Sisters contributed to our school. It gave us a sense of how we have grown as a school since 1916. And it helped us better understand what it means to give yourself to God in prayer and work.

As a small gesture of our appreciation we raised money for the Benedictine Sisters. For a small donation students could wear jeans to school on Wednesday and today. Today a Read-A-Thon raised more money.

 

Students curled up with a book and read.

 

 

 

We were able to raise

$3,813.16

for the Work and Prayer of the Sisters.

We appreciate the sisters more

 than money can express.

Footnote: To start the school in 1916, the trustees had to borrow $3,000.

Our Benedictine Sisters during Catholic Schools Week

We kicked off Catholic Schools Week on Sunday when Sr. Judith Sutera, OSB gave a presentation of "Benedictine Education: Then & Now." We discovered that the "Then" was 1500 years ago when the saints who were twins, Benedict and Scholastica, began the Benedictines.

Benedictine life is still based on the rule St. Benedictine wrote. Benedict envisioned a balanced life of prayer and work as the ideal While the subject of that work varies, at one time in the history of our country and our Church there was a need for teachers. Although they are not a teaching order, the Benedictines saw the need and helped -- as did all the communities of the era.

So why aren't the sisters teaching in our school anymore? Sr. Judith explained, "You didn't need us."

We can see that things would be easier (and cheaper) if the sisters did everything. But we experienced a time when it was important that our parish community take over the responsibility for the education of our youth.

On Monday Sr. Barbara Smith, OSB, spoke with all of the 4th through 8th grade students in our school. She described the origins of the community St. Benedict and St. Scholastica began and the Benedictine Community. There are 150 sisters in their Atchison Kansas community who Pray and Work together.

Telling her own vocation story, Sr. Barbara told that when she felt called to become a vowed religious sister, the first thing she had to do was become Catholic.

Sr. Delores Dolezal, OSB, met class by class with the Kindergarten through 3rd grade classes. She also ate lunch with a group of 4th grade girls and helped some students from 6B cut out letters to decorate their class door for Catholic Schools Week.

Sr. Judith and Sr. Barbara also looked over the plaque in our library listing all the sisters who have taught in our school. Some were only here for a few months, others (like Sr. Delores) were here for a number of years.

We thank Sisters Judith, Barbara and Delores for making Catholic Schools Week extra special this year!

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!

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.

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