“There are three types of people in the church today: the students who are excited the school year is over, the teachers who are even more excited that school is over for the summer and the parents/grandparents who aren’t excited that the school year is finished,” quipped Father John Betters, pastor of SS. Robert and William Parish in Euclid. He was celebrating the end-of-school-year Mass for the parish school on May 25.
Father Betters noted that the goal for the 2022-2023 school year was striving to be saints and scholars.
“Saints follow Jesus. Scholars learn and become the people God wants them to be,” he told the students, teachers, parents and others gathered in the church for Mass. “The whole reason we’re here is to grow closer to Jesus.”
He reminded the children that they are created in the image and likeness of God. “Everyone is perfectly made. God created you and he loves you.”
Even though he is losing some hair and may not have the best singing voice, “God made me. He made me this way and he loves me, so I sing loudly and don’t worry about my hair,” Father Betters said. He encouraged the children to continue following Jesus daily and to always ask, What would Jesus do?
“Remember, God loves you so much and you are made in his image. If you ever wondered what God looks like, look to the person next to you, in front of you and behind you. You’ll find God there.”
After Mass, Martha Dodd, school principal, announced that teacher Patrice Garuckas was retiring after 33 years at SS. Robert and William School. She teaches religion and English, plans the eighth-grade graduation each year and founded the school’s No Place for Hate chapter. She also received a Silver Apple Award for excellence in teaching.
Parent Mary Pomnean who was in one of Garuckas’ first eighth-grade classes paid tribute to her former teacher who also taught five of her six children at SS. Robert and William.
Pomnean said after she was married, she and her husband settled in Euclid and were SS. Robert and William parishioners.
“How ironic is it that she (Garuckas) would teach and mentor 5/6 of our children?” Pomnean questioned. She recalled when her oldest child entered eighth grade and she went to the school to check the classroom list. “His name was on her list,” she said. That scenario repeated about every two years for four more of her children.
“I was hoping you’d last three more years,” Pomnean said, noting her youngest daughter is in fifth grade and will be the only child in the family who did not have Garuckas for eighth grade. “Come back for one more year when she’s in eighth grade. Her two youngest children – an eighth-grader and the fifth-grader – were at the Mass. The others were unable to attend but sent their best wishes to their former teacher. One daughter recalled that Garuckas always put God first. Another of her children remembered her as a patient teacher.
“Thank you to your family for sharing you with us all these years. It was very comforting knowing that our children were in your hands,” Pomnean said.
Father Betters said introducing the No Place for Hate chapter at the school was an important contribution. “It reminds us that each of us is loved for who we are. She does it well,” he said, referring to Garuckas’ method of teaching. “Jesus is your role model so we got you a model of him,” he added, pointing to a large garden statue of a smiling Jesus with two children that was sitting in front of the altar. The gift was presented to Garuckas in appreciation for her years of service to SS. Robert and William. “You never shied away from hard work and never said no when asked to do something. You treated people with the dignity and respect of being created in the image and likeness of God,” he added.
“It has been my honor and privilege to spend my entire career at SS. Robert and William School. I am grateful. Thank you,” Garuckas said.