In the Diocese of Cleveland, the popular tradition of year-end school field trips returned after a two-year hiatus caused by pandemic safety guidelines established by the Office of Catholic Education.
Although a mixture of religious and secular trips took place before the start of summer break, the most popular destinations for Catholic elementary students were not the local town hall or the latest exhibit at the zoo. Instead, both the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid saw a significant uptick in the number of school groups traveling to tour, learn and worship in their sacred spaces.
(See photo gallery above.)
“It has been a busy spring for us,” said Sister Phyllis Ann Lavelle, O.S.S.T. As shrine administrator, she and four other Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity – all of whom are former teachers -- collaborate with schools to plan their visits to Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine.
At the end of May, the shrine hosted two separate schools in less than 24 hours: St. Barnabas (Northfield) and Holy Trinity (Avon). Several more schools are on the calendar for June.
Each visit begins in the chapel where students view a series of stained-glass windows that depict the story of young St. Bernadette. As if they were turning pages in a book, students are awed by the vibrant colors of the windows. They look from window to window as Sister Lavelle engages them with the story of St. Bernadette. Her voice is animated as she describes the Blessed Mother’s 1858 appearances to the young peasant girl Bernadette and how people from Lourdes, France experienced an awakening.
Next, the students visit the grotto where water flows over a piece of stone imported from the original shrine in Lourdes, France, where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette. Sister Lavelle explains to the students that people from across the country travel to the shrine to touch the stone and find serenity. Students, teachers and chaperones can touch the stone, pray and bottle some holy water at the grotto.
Centrally located to most schools, the cathedral in downtown Cleveland has hosted many school groups for tours and noon Mass.
Middle school students from Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights spent the second half of the academic year learning about local church history, vocations and genealogy.
“When it comes to really understanding the history of how the diocese was established and parishes built or understanding how the Holy Spirit calls a person to their vocation, there often are not pictures in a textbook that allow a student to fully understand,” according to Katie Cuevas, a middle school religion teacher at IWA. “The cathedral is a valuable resource that provides many visuals that bring together what the students have learned. It is meaningful, enjoyable and real,” she said.
During their tour, IWA alumnus Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization, spoke to the students about the “Mother Church” and the Holy Spirit working within their lives.
As the tour progressed, students got a chance to view the bishop’s cathedra -- the raised seat behind the altar – where he sits during liturgies. The students also learned about Bishop Edward Malesic’s crest and motto from cathedral docents (volunteer tour guides) before moving on to explore the crypt with Father Ference. Many bishops of the diocese are buried in the crypt. Most recently, Bishop Anthony Pilla and Bishop Richard Lennon, the ninth and 10th diocesan bishops, were laid to rest there.
“Students participate in a variety of school activities that help them with problem solving or accomplishing a given task,” said Father Ference, “but field trips such as these evangelize, spark further curiosity and carry out the mission of the greater Church.”