| 2/9/2010 12:57:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| During a Feb. 4 Catholic Schools Week visit to
St. Augustine School in Washington, Archbishop Donald Wuerl prays the Our Father with fourth graders. This Easter, 21 St. Augustine students will be baptized as Catholics.
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Archbishop congratulates 21 St. Augustine students preparing for Baptism
LAURA WRIGHT
Catholic Standard
The secret to having 21 students decide they want to be baptized Catholic is simple - recruit women religious to serve at the school, said Father Patrick Smith, the pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Washington.
About three years ago he did just that, and three Handmaid of the Holy Child Jesus sisters from Africa arrived at the historic parish school in the District shortly thereafter - bringing discipline, strong morals and a missionary spirit in tow.
Since then, the sisters, who dress in a white and gray habit, have worked hard to build trust and relationships with members of the school community.
"They shared their community life with the community of the school. They really permeated the school life with prayer," he said. St. Augustine is the oldest African American school in the District and one of the oldest Catholic schools in the city. It was founded by emancipated African Ame-ricans and by free men and women of color in 1858.
Handmaid of the Holy Child Sister Emmanuella Ladipo, the director of religious education and the assistant principal, said they have tried to figure out where children and their families go to church, and if they go at all. She has found that many parents belong to other Christian denominations, or they don't have a religion.
Sister Gloria Agumagu, the principal, said the sisters are not just influencing the conversion of students, but the conversion of parents and the community, too.
"Nuns don't just teach, we are missionaries," she said.
Sister Emmanuella said she is a "product of Catholic education," and she converted to the faith in high school. "I wasn't born Catholic, I was baptized in 10th grade, so I know when you go to a Catholic school, it works."
Archbishop Donald Wuerl congratulated the 21 student candidates for Baptism while visiting St. Augustine during Catholic Schools Week on Feb. 4.
He said the most exciting thing about becoming Catholic will be "when Father Pat celebrates Mass, you will be able to receive Holy Communion ... At Easter time you will not only be able to be part of the Church, but receive first Holy Communion."
The 21 students preparing to become Catholic are scheduled to be baptized during the Easter Vigil on April 3 at St. Augustine Church.
The archbishop gave each student a cross blessed by Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Washington in 2008.
This is "so you have one with you when you are received into the Church ..." the archbishop said.
Every time the archbishop entered a classroom, the students stood up and greeted him saying, "May the peace of the Lord be with you, welcome to the home of the saints." The archbishop received many homemade cards filled with notes and prayers from the students.
Pre-kindergartners and kindergartners sang, "I am a living testimony. I didn't make it on my own. It was Jesus." Statues of Mary, rosaries, Bibles and crucifixes filled the classrooms.
Of the 180 students at St. Augustine, 168 are African American and 38 percent are Catholic. After the students are baptized at Easter, the number of Catholics will rise to 49 percent.
Father Smith said the large number of student converts proves that at the heart of Catholic education is the call to evangelize.
"Catholic schools are clearly an extension of the mission of the Church," he said. "...It demonstrates how open and hungry our children are for the Good News and the Gospel. It's simply up to us to share it, (and) they are ready for it."
Ryan Washington, an eighth grader who was baptized Catholic in 2006, read an essay during an assembly in front of the school and the archbishop about what Catholic education means to him.
He said Catholic education "emphasizes knowledge, discipline and faith ... Because of our Catholic education we are considerate and respectful of ourselves, as well as others."
At a Catholic school some students are hearing about God and His mercy for the first time, while other students learn more about their already deep rooted faith, Washington said.
Rasheda Twitty, a sixth grade student and Washington's sister, said it is a "blessing" to have religion in school.
"It brings you closer to God," she said. Twitty said the sisters, Father Smith and her brother inspired her to become Catholic.
Estelle Henyo, a fifth grader, said becoming Catholic was "everything I wanted."
"We get to believe in Christ," she said. "... I love Jesus, because He died on the cross for us."
Bowen Nosiri, a third grader preparing for Baptism, said he loves St. Augustine School because he learns about God.
"I love religion and learning about Jesus Christ. He loves us, and if we are baptized we will be alive in heaven forever and ever."
Father Smith said the students preparing for Baptism is "by far the greatest sign of God's affirmation of all of the hard work and sacrifice that we as a parish and staff have done to make sure St. Augustine School continues to thrive."
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Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Article comment by:
Sr. Emmanuella Ladipo,hhcj
This writeup is a true fact that the theme for 2010 Catholic Shools week is inspired by God. Catholic schools have vivid benefits of faith, knowledge, dicipline and morals. Long live our Catholic faith.
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