December 16, 2009

Students engage in fun, faith-filled Advent, Christmas projects

Many of the Catholic schools have been participating in Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas projects around the Denver Archdiocese.  Some of those events and programs are highlighted below.

St. Bernadette
Primary grade students of St. Bernadette School in Lakewood took a leadership roll during Advent prayer services held in the cafeteria for the school community.  Students were selected to rehearse and lead the prayer services for the entire community during the Advent season.

St. Louis
This year the Student Council officers and representatives of St. Louis School in Louisville set up the school’s Christmas tree for the fourth annual Festival of Trees sponsored by Meals on Wheels of Boulder at the Folsom Field event center.  The theme for the school’s tree was “Christmas Around the World.” Each class from pre-school through eighth-grade chose a different country to represent and each student made an ornament denoting that country.  The school’s tree was one of 40 raffled off Dec. 6 with money going to the charity.

St. Therese
Aurora’s St. Therese School principal Laura Dement allowed her face to be painted Dec. 7 as the result of a wager made with students.  The student who sold the most poinsettias in a recent school fundraiser won the privilege to paint the principal’s face. The honor went to third grader Alexis Valle who sold $300 worth of the holiday plant.  Dement said she was delighted with the drive, the artwork and the fact that she got to wear it the entire school day.

Our Lady of Lourdes
Recently, student members of the Little Flowers and confirmandi from Our Lady of Lourdes School in Denver decided to go on a fast, giving up one meal in order to help those who are less fortunate. News of this idea spread to the rest of the school and soon, the entire student body participated.  Money saved from skipping the price of one hot lunch was used to make “Fast for Feast” bags filled with goodies and necessities for the homeless, including holiday cards made by the children as well.  Students found the experience both humbling and spiritual as they learned that how, as a school, giving up one meal could help feed 170 people.  The bags were sent to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church where they were distributed through the parish’s sandwich line Dec. 5.

St. John the Evangelist
On Nov. 23, students at St. John the Evangelist School in Loveland participated in a “100 Person Feast,” an event with the goal of raising awareness of poverty and hunger.  Students learned the gravity of these social problems and how they affect people on a global scale.  They then discussed Catholic social teaching and how these injustices and inequities can be addressed in light of the faith. The program included a lecture and video presentation and was followed by a prayer session led by Father Felicien Mbala.