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!