

- A special devotion to Our Lady and her Rosary: In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy I led a weekly Rosary after school for the specific intention of the safety of our students, families, faculty, and staff. I invited those who attended to lead a decade if they’d like to, with preference given to students. One little boy came with his mom and wanted to lead a decade, and his mom approached me afterward to express her amazement at the fact that her son knew the Rosary well enough to confidently and correctly lead a decade. “What a great school!” she exclaimed. When one of the students battled leukemia, a Rosary was said for her every week, and a special focus is given to the Rosary during the month of October—the month of the rosary. And the May Crowning is a big deal every year!
- Almost all of the schools we play in sports are public schools, and before one basketball game, the visiting team was crowded outside the gym waiting to go in. Right next to them was a large crucifix on the wall, and my mom overheard them having a conversation about who “that guy” hanging on the cross was. Some of them were completely unfamiliar with Jesus, but that day — because of a basketball game — they were introduced to Him!
- My son came home from school one day with eyes as big as monster-truck tires because his history teacher had included the amazing details of Juan Diego’s tilma in the lesson on Mexico that day — my son loved learning about it!
- My sister, Molly, has developmental disabilities, but went through the Catholic schools just like the rest of her siblings. While she was still a student in high school, she started visiting the kindergarten classes at the elementary school once a week to give a little lesson on that week’s Sunday Gospel, and she’s continued to do so for all these years — it’s been over fifteen years at this point. She also works in the school office as a helper to the principal, and cantors at the school Masses. There are many people — adults and children — who know me best as “Molly’s sister.” The number of times I’ve heard a little one at the grocery store, for example, tug at his or her mother’s arm and say, “Look Mom! It’s Molly!” when seeing my sister, is quite high! She’s also brought her devotion to Bl. Solanus Casey to our whole community.
- Every year our high school has “Giving Day,” where all of the students and faculty — hundreds of people — volunteer at various organizations, businesses, and schools around our city, doing such varied things as serving food, doing yard work, and helping children. When alumni were invited to present at the school’s first Career Day last year, one of the questions we were asked to address was what communities we serve with our work — that focus on service to others is ever present.
- I know of four families who had members come into full communion in the Church as a direct result of their children’s enrollment in the school.
Copyright 2020 Kate Towne
About the Author

Kate Towne
Kate is a writer, wife to a really good man, and mama to their seven boys ages 1 to 15. She shares her thoughts on Catholic baby naming at Sancta Nomina, and her first book, Catholic Baby Names for Girls and Boys: Over 250 Ways to Honor Our Lady (Marian Press, 2018) can be found at ShopMercy.org and Amazon.
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