“This is a special moment: 75 years of education and spiritual formation, of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ here at St. Rita School,” said Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost. “I am so glad to be here today and grateful to Father (Tom) Behrend (St. Rita pastor) for the invitation.”
The bishop visited the Solon school, which educates students from preschool to grade 8, on Sept. 9 to mark its anniversary. He celebrated Mass and blessed the building and school community during his visit.
Father Behrend and Father Renard Lawrence, parochial vicar, concelebrated the liturgy. Assisting was Deacon Mark Janezic, who is assigned to St. Rita Parish.
(See photo gallery above.)
The bishop told those gathered in the church that Bishop Edward Malesic, who was heading to the diocesan mission in El Salvador, also sent his best wishes.
Bishop Woost asked all current and former teachers to stand and be recognized as he thanked them for their ministry of educating the parish’s youth.
“Do you realize the thousands of young people who have been educated here over the past 75 years?” the bishop asked. “You stand on the shoulders of giants. You are part of a very important history of this parish.”
The bishop told the students their Catholic education creates a foundation for them. The eighth-graders will carry that with them as they move on to high school and beyond, he added. “You will grow in both your education and your faith lives. You will help others grow.”
Reflecting on the Gospel story of the man with a withered hand, Bishop Woost asked the students to think about how difficult things would be if their dominant hand was not usable. Jesus felt pity for the afflicted man, but he knew that it was the sabbath and Jews were not to do work on that day, or they would break the law.
“Jesus questioned what would be better – to follow the rules or to do something to make the man’s life better? He decided to break the rules, but he did something better,” the bishop explained. “We are called to do the right thing and that’s what you learn here. At St. Rita School, you are called to help everyone. You’re not just learners, you are sharing the presence of Jesus with one another.”
By supporting each other, Bishop Woost told the students they are serving as instruments of Jesus’ love and peace in each other’s lives.
Students presented the bishop with a special spiritual bouquet that was displayed in the front of the church.
After Mass, the bishop, priests and school community walked across the street and gathered on the front lawn of the school as the bishop blessed them and the building.
Learn more about St. Rita School, which was founded in 1949, here.