Prayer, parade kick off school year

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
August 23, 2007

Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools students and their parents filled the stands at Memorial Field on Aug. 19, not to cheer on their team at a pre-season football game, but to ask Jesus to light the way as they start a new school year.

The Second Annual Big Hoopla Celebrating Our Schools kicked off the year for students, parents and faculty. Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools consists of Bishop Heelan High School, Holy Cross Grade School, Mater Dei Grade School and Sacred Heart Grade School.

The Hoopla began with Mass presided by Bishop R. Walker Nickless and was followed by a Parade of Excellence, balloon launch and a barbecue dinner.

Concelebrating with the bishop were Father Patrick Walsh, president of Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools; and Father Jerry Cosgrove. Deacon Fred Karpuk assisted with the liturgy.

In the homily, the bishop thanked parents for sending their children to Catholic schools.

"Thank you for the sacrifice that you make to enable your children to grow not only in academic learning, not only to participate in our sports programs, but to grow in their Catholic faith," said Bishop Nickless. "There is only one reason we have Catholic schools and that's to pass on our Catholic faith to our children."

Catholic schools, he noted, provide numerous opportunities for the students to live their Catholic faith.

"The readings of our Mass today speak of discipleship. They tell us what it means to be a follower of Christ," said the bishop, who noted that the words of the readings are not easy to hear because they seem harsh and demanding.

In Scripture, Jesus said that he came to set the earth on fire and he warned that people would be divided. The bishop said it helps believers know that they must pay the price to win the race.

"The race is not simply a race around that track that is behind me. The race is to heaven - to become saints, holy men and women," Bishop Nickless said. "The prize is eternal life."

The image of fire, he noted, is meant to tell the faithful that they must be purified to get to heaven.

"The fire that Jesus sets is the fire of his great love for us," he said. "This fire will burn away everything that is not permanent in our lives. It will burn away all that keeps us from loving God above all things."

Catholic schools, said the bishop, provide an environment in which students can be set on fire with the message of Jesus so they can make a difference in the community and the world.

He prayed that the purifying fire of Jesus would not create fear but would give the faithful determination to live the faith completely and fully.

As the liturgy drew to a close, Father Walsh thanked those who planned the Hoopla as well as the teachers and administrators who were present.

"This is a great celebration of who we are as Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools and we look forward to a great school year," he said.

After Mass, students holding balloons and some with banners paraded in front of the stands with their class as Father Craig Collison, pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Sioux City, provided commentary.

"Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools are committed to the full human and spiritual development of our students by promoting excellence in all academic and co-curricular activities," said Father Collison.

He said there are 172 faculty and staff members at Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools.

At the conclusion of the parade, the sky was splashed with blue and gold as the balloons were let free and floated away.

To see the balloons fly away was the best part of the day, said Nicole Jacobson, a first-grade student at Sacred Heart.

Holy Cross eighth-grader Anni Tigges thinks its great to be able to receive a Catholic education and liked attending Mass outside.

Another first-grader, Dawson Fenton, who attends Mater Dei, said he liked going to the Hoopla because he liked "thinking about God."

He also liked letting his balloon fly away.

Even the adults were pleased with the Hoopla.

"It gets us all pumped up and ready for the school year," said Jody Smith, a teacher's aide at Sacred Heart. "It gets the kids ready to come back and what's greater than having Mass outside?"

Juan Archila, parent of a Sacred Heart student, said it was a good way to build school spirit at the start of a new school year.

The first day of school for Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools was Aug. 23.

Renee Webb may be reached at rwebb@catholicglobe.org.

Home