Catholic Schools Week celebrated in Northborough

BY TANYA CONNOR | THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS 

NORTHBOROUGH – Children brought the bishop prayer and laughter, service and song, as he brought them his blessing and lessons for Catholic Schools Week. 

It was Monday morning at St. Bernadette Elementary School. Bishop McManus had just celebrated Mass for some of the older students and was visiting the youngest ones in the Sister Marguerite Timothy Young Early Childhood Center, escorted by the principal, Deborah O’Neil; assistant principal, Julianne Morin, and St. Bernadette Parish’s pastor, Father Ronald G. Falco.  

In pre-kindergarten 3 a child wanted to show the bishop small figures of the Holy Family that the class uses for daily prayer. Teacher Carolyn Marinelli then led them in a prayer to Baby Jesus. 

Another pre-kindergartner got Bishop McManus laughing by saying “bye” before the bishop was ready to leave. The child seemed to want the bishop’s blessing to end so he could finish his lunch.

Bishop McManus talked with kindergartners about the snow, and how learning to read will help them in life. 

“Do you know who this man is?” he asked, pointing to Father Falco. “He’s your spiritual leader.” Students seemed happy to see this priest they know. 

In the other kindergarten classroom, the bishop learned that Annette Dalbec was back to school after surgery – which pleased her, her students and her fellow teacher, Lisa Guerriero. Father Falco praised the dedication of teachers. 

At Mass, students served in various ways. Eighth-grader Zoey Cheung played the flute.  

Bishop McManus commended the students for living their faith through a community service project of collecting clothes for homeless veterans. He also imparted lessons through his homily. 

In the Gospel, Jesus told adults – who were asking who was the greatest – that unless they became like a little child they could not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

“How many of you have little brothers and sisters at home?” Bishop McManus asked his young congregation, and many raised their hands. He told the children he has nieces and nephews – and now great-nieces and great-nephews – and has seen how the babies raise their arms in their cribs as soon as they see their mothers. 

“Little children trust their parents,” who show them love, Bishop McManus said. He said children are dependent on others, as we’re dependent on God to live the Christian life.  

“We give everything to God, we trust ourselves to him,” and love each other, he added. He said when our life on earth is over, we’ll spend eternity with God, if we loved him with all our heart, mind and soul, and strove to love others. 

Bishop McManus told the students about the saint of the day – St. John Bosco – founder of the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesians), who was born in Italy in 1815. He took care of and educated young people in need. 

The bishop recalled meeting European Salesians in Rome studying to serve in India. He said most people in India were not Catholic, but most officials there were educated in Catholic schools by Salesians. So Catholic education had an impact. 

The bishop asked students to thank God for Catholic education and St. Bernadette’s, pointing out that their education is to help them serve others.