A Davisburg area school has branched out to help students, family and the community spiritually during these difficult times.
St. Francis of Assisi Academy has established a prayer tree as part of Catholic Education Week, May 18-24. The tree is at the school — a caring facility students haven’t been able to attend since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a small tree — we’re a pretty new school — but it fits the purpose,” said Cindy Olynyk a teacher at the K-Grade 9 school. “Students and families can have a little prayer at the school, where they miss being. This is another way to come together, when we are far away.
“In a time of uncertainty faith is our vessel that we need to come together and hope for each other,”
May is also the Month of Mary. Those visiting the tree are asked to decide who they would like to pray for and collect a strip of blue fabric from home (the colour blue symbolizes Mary and Catholic education).
Faith, always an important part at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools, may play even a bigger role because students are taking classes at home since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We present faith in a variety of ways – we made a collage of every single teacher holding one word, it is the blessing that we give to the students at the every day," said Olynyk, an elementary school teacher. “We sent the collage to the kids, letting them know we are praying with them every day still. That is one our favourite things that we like to do in school – praying with the kids.”
She said she regularly asks her students – now through Zoom – how are they keeping Sunday and telling them what her family does.
“So we share those ideas,” she said. “Some kids have their own prayer corner in their bedroom. Some say they light candles and read the gospel with the family.”
While the St. Francis academy community is coming together through prayer at the tree, physical distancing and safety is still priority no. 1. There are a few guidelines.
• If there is a family at the prayer tree at the same time wait a few minutes until they depart, to proceed
• The school playground remains closed
• The speed limit is 10km/hr in the parking lot.
