Prayer Bear goes home, and elsewhere, with students

By Mairgread Gray  

CFP Correspondent 

WEBSTER – It all started for Samantha Sampaio, first-grade teacher at St. Joseph Elementary School, when she took a class in college about the building of a bear. She took her furry creature home.  

When she started teaching at St. Joseph’s four years ago, she thought hard about how she could tie in prayer with a stuffed animal. 

To encourage prayer and strengthen Catholic identity at home, she has her students take part in The Adventures of Prayer Bear. Each student takes Prayer Bear home for one week, along with Prayer Bear’s backpack, some changes of clothes, markers, and an Adventure Binder with writing prompts such as, “Who did you pray for this week? What prayers did you say? My Week with Prayer  Bear: Today we…” 

Students share their daily life with Prayer Bear, who has been on some amazing adventures. He’s been four-wheeling, baked desserts, assisted with homework, helped with the recycling, voted at the local election, and snuggled with his friends. 

Each student signs Prayer Bear’s shirt after his visit. Ms. Sampaio encourages parents to take pictures and send them in to the school, where they are displayed on a bulletin board in the classroom.

“The kids love it,” she said. And she likes the way the children have taken Prayer Bear to heart.

Tucker Harrity, 8, and his brother Liam, 6, sons of Jake and  Angela Harrity, are two students who have brought the bear home. 

For Tucker, the best thing about Prayer Bear was getting to make a hat and scarf for him with his grandmother. He also took the bear to church, which helped make that obligation easier for him. 

For Liam, the best thing was getting to go places with Prayer Bear, especially soccer practice and Mass. He also had nightly prayers with him. Prayer Bear was there for Liam’s birthday too.  

“We went to the library that day,” Liam said. He picked out a book, came home and then had a family celebration.

Mrs. Harrity said the bear brings faith down to the kids’ level; he makes faith available to them.

The students also learn to speak in front of the class, telling what they did with the bear, which helps them become a community.  

“It is very personal,” Mrs. Harrity said.