The importance of my Catholic education
In May 2021, SMM’s Knights of Columbus Council held a contest to examine this question and invited our school’s Class of 2021, now graduated, to submit essays. Below, are just a few of their thoughtful insights.
Lilian wrote, “It is our job to educate ourselves about our faith, so we can better understand God and develop a closer relationship with Him.” She added that she feels extremely privileged to attend Catholic school, which has helped her develop a more intimate prayer life with God. Reflecting on his years at SMM School, Joe expressed, “My faith in God and my responsibility to serve others has strengthened in many ways. I believe that serving others is the most important value of Catholic teaching.” Alex, who attended SMM for nine years, stated her time at SMM “was one of the best decisions my parents made for me and one of the best experiences of my life.” She continued, “The school and church have created a loving, caring community for me, filled with friends, family, and teachers. I have learned that God is always with you and looking out for you.” She added, “It has taught me how important it is to create a community and be active in it; by doing that, I’ve become a follower of Christ.”
SMM has helped Elena understand what it means to be a Catholic. She penned, “Not only receiving the sacraments but learning about each one and comprehending Jesus’ sacrifices.” Pierre expressed how faith is at the heart of SMM School, “We pray multiple times a day. At the beginning of every science class, Miss Logan starts by saying, ‘Let’s thank God for waking us up this morning,’ this makes me think of how grateful I should be for all the good things God does for us.” He added that each year during the May Procession, “the image of every student in uniform praying the rosary will always remind me how Mary was humble, gentle, and loving.” The essay winner, Meredith, wrote, “I think the best teachers...do not simply check off the boxes of their curriculum, but interweave lessons of faith.” She added, “We learn to have compassion and empathy for others, and no matter what happens in our lives, God’s love for us is unconditional.” She felt connected to God in every class and “starting each day with a prayer” calmed her. “Imagining my life without my Catholic faith is something I could never do because of the unique experiences and opportunities that were given to me.”