Nearly 300 St. Mary of the Assumption School students, family members, and faculty members gathered before sunrise on Dec. 12 to begin the school’s Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration. After praying, singing Las Mananitas, and honoring the Lady of Guadalupe with flowers, the students gathered for breakfast and enjoyed a performance by Righetti High School’s Ballet Folklorico.
“For Catholics, Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint of the Americas,” St. Mary’s School Principal Michelle Cox said in a press release. “For many of our families, especially those with Hispanic heritage, she is very important. One of the big differences between St. Mary’s School and public schools is our ability to celebrate the diverse heritage of our students and our Catholic faith.”
Students attended Mass, prayed the rosary, and made tilmas and tissue flowers. The day ended with lunch and a play by the seventh graders reenacting the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego.
“Our school is a very special place. Learning with faith develops a foundation that will shape our students throughout their lives,” Cox said in the release.
Founded on Sept.14, 1938, St. Mary of the Assumption School is the Santa Maria Valley’s oldest Catholic School. It serves more than 250 students in preschool to eighth grade.
This article appears in Dec 22-29, 2011.
