At the end of May we held our last class mass with the fourth class at Kennedy Park school. Like the four other class masses this year, the mass was held on the final Friday of the month, had a theme (Holy Spirit for Pentecost), and was full of singing, smiles, and lots of participation. However, a few things differentiated this mass from the others. The first BIG difference being that all the other classes from Kennedy Park who we’ve worked with this year came up to the church to attend mass. This made for a big, fun reunion of sorts and celebrating mass together was the perfect way to wrap up a year of laughing, learning, and prayer with these great kids. Another fantastic way this fourth class differentiated themselves was their unique ideas for prayers of the faithful and gifts (including a bowl of potted lettuce they had been growing in their classroom!) We thanked God for our many gifts and prayed “Come Holy Spirit” in line with the theme of the mass. We made our hands into “thrones” (or trones if you’re Irish) to receive Communion or “to hold the Bread of Heaven” as the Steve Warner song (which we sang at Communion) explains. Finally, we finished on a high note with a rousing version of “Send Down the Fire” which we are told is the favorite song the students learned all year.
Working in the both parish primary schools has been some of our favorite, most fulfilling work in Clonard this year. Whenever we work with the students, we leave feeling joyful and energized. Their enthusiasm is contagious and their senses of humor continuously amaze us. We look forward to expanding the class mass program next year into more classes at both schools, and to becoming even more involved with the young people of Clonard Parish. I am confidant the relationship between Teach Bhríde and the Clonard schools will only continue to grow, strengthen, and be an overwhelmingly positive experience for all parties involved.
