St. Peter School Inspires Students To Become Loving Disciples Of Christ

In 1979, St. Pope John Paul II spoke at the National Catholic Education Association, emphasizing the importance of Catholic education in evangelization and discipleship: “Catholic education is above all a question of communicating Christ, of helping to form Christ in the lives of others.”

While over 40 years have passed since St. John Paul II spoke these words, the message remains ever true today. Our Catholic schools are called to provide young people with both a solid academic education and a strong spiritual formation as disciples of Christ. Here at St. Peter School, our faculty and staff are dedicated to both of these missions, with a special emphasis on stewardship as a way of life.

“On Fridays, the students are encouraged to bring in canned food for the poor and collections for the Holy Child Association,” says Sister Mary Michael, St. Peter School Principal. “Our sixth-graders put on a mission carnival each year during Catholic Schools Week and raise money for Mary’s Meals. Another thing we do, to help them learn that we return to God all of the things we receive, is we have them tithe their Halloween candy – one-tenth comes back to school and goes to Catholic Social Service. All students also have service hours that they do throughout the course of the year.”

Of course, giving of their time, talent and treasure comes naturally to these children as a result of the firm foundation in the faith they receive on a daily basis. Religion classes are a part of the core curriculum for all grades. In addition, students attend Mass and confession regularly, the school’s morning announcements always include prayer, and each day concludes with a brief examination of conscience.

St. Peter School recognizes that no child is too young to begin learning about God’s love and call to serve.

“Children have such an aptitude for developing a relationship with God, and we’re capitalizing on that in a big way with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd,” Sr. Mary Michael says. “We have a beautiful atrium downstairs and our Pre-K, kindergartners and secondgraders are going weekly. The program builds some of that potential for a deep trust in the Lord and a sound foundation in the Father’s love.

“It’s easy to follow His rules when we know His love and there is not a host of temptations around us,” she adds. “You don’t want to try to do that for the first time when they are deep into adolescence. A little bit of discipline and learning your prayers become a part of the fabric of the person.”

Sr. Mary Michael has been a part of life at St. Peter School off and on for almost 30 years. She served as Principal of St. Peter School for nine years before leaving for nine years of vocation work in the early 2000s. Now in her ninth year back at the school, she feels blessed to be a part of this essential work of the Church.

“It’s phenomenal to have such beautiful, meaningful work in such an important apostolate in the Church,” she says. “The school creates a soundness of foundation so that kids can be free as is proper to childhood and engage in learning. It’s a beautiful and generally a joyful, peaceful place here. As you train them when they are young, so they are when they are old.”

If you would like more information about St. Peter School, please visit the school website at www.saintpeterslincoln.com/school.html.

Sr. Mary Michael surprises the students with a visit from a llama. The llama was part of the Mission Carnival a couple of years ago, when sixth-graders created a “kiss the llama” booth to help raise funds for Mary’s Meals.