Our pre-school children under the leadership of Julianne Volk, Summer Stearns, LeAnn Salentiny and Sonya Becker.  They have chosen to be angels among us and we know they strive to live up to their title every day—and it’s not easy!  With our constant love, care, and guidance they are truly on their way to becoming the best version of themselves—saints!

A favorite saint of many people, and especially the kindergartners and 1st graders with teachers, Anita Perrizo and Judy Pelzel is St. Francis of Assisi.  God gave St. Francis a most unique talent, which was that he could communicate with the animals.  If he told the roaring lion to be quiet, the lion would obey.  If he told the tiger to lie down, the tiger would do exactly that.  At one time St. Francis was so sick that he almost died.  But God saved his life.  To show how grateful he was, St. Francis dedicated his life to giving food and clothes to the poor people and their children.  By doing good deeds for people, he taught them to love one another.  His feast day is October 4th.

Cathy Henkels and the 2nd graders learned about St. John Vianney who is the patron saint of confessors, priests and the archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas.  He is remembered for performing great penance for his parishioners and having the gifts of miracle working, prophecy, hidden knowledge and discernment of spirits. Saint John Vianney was tormented by evil spirits throughout his life, especially when he attempted to get in his two or three hours of sleep a night.  His feast day is August 4th.

The 3rd graders and Sara Bartosh chose St. Therese of Lisieux who is also known as St. Teresa of the Child Jesus.  She is the universal co-patroness of the Missions, together with St. Francis Xavier and also known for her “little way”—doing things for God in a simple manner.  She lived only 24 years, but left us a lot to ponder.  Her feast day is October 1st.

Theresa Dirks and the 4th graders chose St. Dominic Savio, patron saint of children whose feast day is March 9th.  Dominic learned to serve at Mass at the early age of 5.  When he was 12, he went to St. John Bosco and told him he wanted to become a priest.  He entered the Oratory school that St. John Bosco founded, but due to ill health, had to return home after two years.  St. Dominic lived by these 4 rules:  I will go to Confession and Communion often.  I will keep holy the Feast days.  Jesus and Mary will be my best friends.  And I will rather die than commit a sin.  These would be very good rules for us to live by also.  When Dominic was dying, he said, “What beautiful things I see.”  He was only 15 years old.

The 5th graders, along with their teachers, Jody Madsen and Patty Hinkeldey, decided to learn about St. John Vianney also.  He was also known as John Mary or Jean-Marie.  He had much trouble completing his studies for the priesthood, but he went on to become the beloved Cure` d’Ars. When he first arrived at Ars, a remote French village of about 200 people, he found an indifferent congregation.  Within a few years the parish was transformed and people from all over France began to seek out this holy priest.  He would spend from 12-18 hours a day in the confessional.  Our 5th graders have a unique take on this patron saint of priests.

Jason Freking’s 6th graders focused on the patron saint of families—St. Joseph.  St. Joseph has two feast days—March 19th and May 1st.  Almost every time we see Joseph in the gospels he is taking loving care of Jesus and Mary.  Blessed Pope Pius IX probably had this in mind in 1870 when he named St. Joseph the patron saint of our extended family, the Catholic Church.  To illustrate St. Joseph as being the patron saint of families, the students have asked their families to walk with them.