by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Students from St. Francis Xavier School in Sartell were among the more than 1,900 area Catholic School students, K-12, who attended a Mass at St. John the Baptist Abbey Church Feb. 3 to celebrate Catholic education during National Catholic Schools week.
St. Francis Xavier Principal Kathy Kockler said students were honored St. Cloud Diocese Bishop Joseph Kettler took the time to meet and talk to them at the Abbey.
“What a gift it was to celebrate our faith with students and staff from schools around the diocese at the Abbey church,” Kockler said.
St. Francis Xavier fourth-grade students commented about attending the Mass.
“It makes me feel good and that I am truly Catholic,” said Breanna Kurowski.
“It was huge,” said Conner Hanson.
“It made me stronger in my faith,” said Ellie Oehrlein.
“I like that there was a big choir and it made me happy to see the bishop,” said Gracelyn Schulte.
“They did things differently,” said Samantha Hansen.
“It was cool to see a lot of people I knew,” said Blake Fleege.
“I liked that there was a big choir and that there were so many Catholic schools,” said Nina Maxwell.
“It was awesome to go to the abbey and see all the schools, teachers and the bishop,” said Annie Supan.
SJP sixth-grader Nic Roering and other classmates also attended the Mass at the abbey. Roering is the son of Leah and Shane Roering of Sauk Rapids.
“It was fun to see so many kids together at church,” Roering said. “I saw friends from my baseball team and other schools. It was really neat to have the bishop in our church.”
Area pastors joined Bishop Kettler to celebrate together the Mass held at noon.
St. John’s Prep Principal Matt Reichert stated in a press release that the Mass was a way for their community to welcome young people to the campus and into the largest Catholic church in the area.
He said the Mass allows students to come together to worship with a lively Mass with messages specifically for young people.
Many students also toured the St. John’s University campus and Abbey Church. Visiting pastors were invited to join SJP Headmaster Fr. Jonathan Licari, Order of St. Benedict, for lunch after the mass.
SJP Director of Communications and Events Jill Pauly said Catholic students from many schools joined SJP students at the Mass, including those from St. Francis Xavier, Sartell; Cathedral High School and Middle School, St. Cloud; Sacred Heart School, Freeport; St. Boniface School, Cold Spring; St. John’s School, Foley; St. John’s/St. Andrew’s School, Meire Grove and Greenwald; and St. Mary’s School, Melrose.
“We celebrated Catholic education during National Catholic Schools Week by bringing together almost 2,000 students from area schools,” Pauly said. “Our students enjoyed being hosts for such a special event. We are a Benedictine school and one of the core Benedictine values is hospitality. Our students, from grades six-12, all enjoyed the opportunity to welcome other young people to our campus and our church.”
SJP student Nic Roering (front) and other sixth-grade classmates attend Mass on Feb. 3 at St. John the Baptist Abbey Church in Collegeville. Roering is the son of Leah and Shane Roering of Sauk Rapids.
St. Cloud Diocese Bishop Donald Kettler (right) is pictured with Fr. Jonathan Licari, OSB, Headmaster of St. John’s Prep School. Area priests concelebrated mass with Bishop Kettler on Feb. 3 at St. John the Baptist Abbey Church, Collegeville. The mass was attended by more than 1,900 area Catholic school students.
St. Cloud Diocese Bishop Donald Kettler greets students from St. Francis Xavier, Sartell on Feb. 3 at St. John the Baptist Abbey Church, Collegeville.
