St. Paul's kicks off Catholic Schools Week early with patron Mass, adoration and service award

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
 
WORCESTER – St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School kicked off Catholic Schools Week a little early with a Jan. 25 Mass for the school’s feast day. (The national week is officially celebrated Jan. 28 - Feb. 3 this year.)
Bishop McManus, preaching at Mass for Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, connected listeners to the school’s patron. So did Michael Clark, head of school, who presented Wendy Yakstis, admissions coordinator, with the 2024 Saint Paul Service Award.
After Mass, students who had been seeking regular eucharistic adoration at St. Paul’s eagerly told The Catholic Free Press about their holy hour Jan. 22 and their hopes for the future.
Mr. Clark told the students and adults gathered for Mass that they were celebrating one moment in St. Paul’s life (his conversion), made possible by God’s ever-present movement, as the apostle opened himself up to God and God’s will. 
“God is moving each of us towards a transformation … [a] movement powerful and deep … so we might have our moment,” Mr. Clark said.
Bishop McManus said one of the greatest events in history was the conversion of St. Paul, who became a champion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The bishop told how this persecutor of Christians encountered Jesus, was converted to Christ, preached about him throughout the known world, and suffered martyrdom.
Today “you will receive the same Jesus Christ that St. Paul met on the road to Damascus,” Bishop McManus said to listeners who were prepared to receive the Eucharist. “It is our greatest privilege to be able to receive Holy Communion.”
Mr. Clark spoke about celebrating the spirit and zeal of St. Paul’s witness and service, and the spirit and zeal of a school community member, as he introduced the Saint Paul Service Award. It is the highest honor the school confers on an adult staff member. It honors the recipient’s service in advancing the school’s mission, and his or her zeal that sets a standard of servant-leadership for others.
Reading colleagues’ comments about Ms. Yakstis, Mr. Clark said: “She volunteers to help with nearly everything,” embodies the school’s best values, shows personal care for others’ well-being, and might be the first person students meet upon coming to the school and the last to hug them goodbye at graduation. The head of school told how St. Paul quoted Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Mr. Clark applied this to Ms. Yakstis.
Students too gave of themselves, serving at the Mass in various ways and helping initiate a holy hour of adoration at the school earlier in the week.
Rita Hannoush, a sophomore, said Father Donato Infante III, campus chaplain, “kind of inspired us” with a video.
Father Infante said that quite a while ago he showed several students a video from Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, which has weekly praise and worship music before school. 
A number of St. Paul’s students expressed interest then, and, in December, Rita and others asked him about having more regular eucharistic adoration, Father Infante said.
Rita said she suggested having someone like Timothy Messenger, director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, provide music for adoration. 
Mr. Messenger himself came and “did a really good job,” she said; he played songs, and strummed the guitar for quiet reflection time.  
He encouraged students to listen and reflect, said Elias Peschiera, a freshman and a member of the Diocesan Youth Discipleship Team with Rita.
Father Infante expressed gratitude that Father Derek A. Mobilio, associate pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Grafton, filled in for him that day and offered to help in the future.
Sophomore James Kelly said the optional, after-school adoration hour was announced over the intercom. Theology teacher Michael Hoogasian told his classes about it too, Rita said.
“I was expecting the people that I knew [who] were Catholic” to participate, but others came too, she said.
“Most people stayed the whole time,” from 2-3 p.m., and “a lot of teachers came too,” said James, who figured there were about 15 students at the school chapel. 
“I think it was a great experience,” said Elias; people came willingly.
For now, adoration will be monthly, and Mr. Messenger is to lead music, Father Infante said.
“If this is well received, we will consider doing a shorter silent adoration every Monday after school, with music only once a month,” Father Infante said.
James said he would like more people to come for adoration and more people to tell others about it. Students can also attend Bible study with Father Infante on Thursdays and chapel prayer with Mr. Hoogasian on Fridays, he said. 
“I kind of hope that we have a community” of students who will support each other while at St. Paul’s, “so that Catholic people have a support system,” Rita said. “It’s always good to have a group of people that has the same morals and beliefs [as you], that can guide you to make … decisions.” She said she hopes such a community will continue for other students after she and her peers graduate.