Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2007 / St. Valentine students pray for peace
St. Valentine students pray for peace and those who keep them safe
Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published October 5, 2007
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Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic
Students and teachers from St.Valentine School in Redford Township, joined by local government officials, police officers and firefighters, gather around the American flag to pray Sept. 26. " |
Redford Twp. — Students and faculty at St. Valentine School were joined Sept. 26 by local dignitaries and members of the Redford Township Police and Fire departments at a ceremony to pray for peace and for those who keep them safe.
The ceremony, called See You At the Pole, was based on a national movement started in 1990 at public schools as a way for students to pray together despite organized prayer being outlawed in the institutions. St. Valentine has been conducting the ceremony for five years, though with overtly Catholic prayers and blessings.
"This is basically praying for the people who protect us, who take care of us…and our teachers who teach us," said Sharon Larkin, a teacher at the school.
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Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic
Eigth-grader Austin Pelc helps lead a swearing-in ceremony for safety patrol members.” |
As part of the ceremony, safety patrol students – those who help younger students safely cross the streets on their ways to and from school — were formally commissioned. The safety patrol members led the student body in the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, and in asking the Lord to bless the community and their families.
Township supervisor R. Miles Handy, who has a son at the school, encouraged the students to listen to their parents and teachers. Also, kindergartners at the school invited their grandparents to classes for the day.
Initially, the ceremony was to be outside, around the flag pole – hence the moniker See You At The Pole. But a cloudburst send the school body scrambling into the gym, where those gathered huddled around a smaller flagpole in the center of the school's basketball court.
Eighth-grader Katie Reamer, a safety patrol member, said it was an important way to recognize those in the community, such as the police officers and fire fighters, who are committed to their safety.
"It's so their hard work doesn't go unnoticed," said Katie.
Apparently, those invited were glad for the recognition, as well.
"I'm just proud to represent the police department in this ceremony this morning, and to show that the police department is here to serve and protect and support the people of Redford," said Redford Township Police Sgt. David Holtz. "I'm honored they chose to invite us to this."
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Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic
Redford Township dignitaries say the Pledge of Allegiance, from left, Township Supervisor R. Miles Handy, Police Chief John Buck and Police Sgt. David Holtz.” |
Eighth-grader and safety patrol member Mackenzie Holme said she was glad to see younger safety patrol members take a formal pledge and receive recognition for their service.
"I thought it was nice that we formally inducted them," Mackenzie said.
Austin Pelc, another eighth grader, said it was a good lesson to the students in earlier grades.
"It showed the younger grades what they could do when they're older, and what their responsibilities would be," Austin said.
School principal Joyce Mann read a traditional Irish blessing to the safety patrol, in the absence of pastor Fr. Paul Coutinha, SAC, who was with other priests of the archdiocese at the convocation.
Mann said the ceremony was a good practice in sharing the school's faith with the wider community — and teaching the students a lesson about leadership in the Christian vein.
"We are a Catholic school," Mann said. "Our identity is in prayer, and each and everything we do starts in our faith in Jesus.
"If you don't lead by example, what point is there?"
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