SHENANDOAH — The Mass for the Solemnity of Holy Trinity Sunday in Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Church had even more meaning Sunday as it was the closing of the one-year celebration of the 10th anniversary of Trinity Academy.
The school in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center, Shenandoah, began in 2006 through the merger of the Father Walter J. Ciszek Elementary School, Shenandoah, Holy Family School, Frackville, and Immaculate Heart School, Girardville. The school took in students from Academy BVM Catholic School, Mahanoy City, when it closed in 2009, and began accepting students from McAdoo Catholic Elementary School after its closing in 2013.
The Mass on the major feast day was appropriate to the school in being named after the Holy Trinity, which in Christian belief teaches there is one God in three different persons — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Mass included the participation of students and their families since Trinity Academy was “founded in faith and family,” which is the school’s motto.
The Mass began with the procession up the center aisle with an honor guard provided by members of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Schuylkill Assembly 0923. Students from kindergarten through eighth grade carried large blue and gold letters spelling “TRINITY” and ribbons streamers to the front. The letters were placed in order along an altar rail that came from the chapel at the former Cardinal Brennan High School. The altar was dressed with the altar cloth by Thomas and Marianne McAndrew and daughters MacKenzie and Taylor, followed by Megan Messina and sons Jack and Liam placing the lighted candles on the altar. Thad Madden and his daughter, Maggie, carried the Book of the Gospels to the altar, where it was placed.
The welcome was made by Sister Theresa Duffy, IHM, one of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary serving at the school.
“With great joy and gratitude to God on this solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, our school, Trinity Academy at the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center, celebrates its 10th anniversary of being a center of hope here in northern Schuylkill County by providing students with an education that is strong in faith and academics from 2006 to the present 2016,” Duffy said. “Trinity Academy is dedicated to assisting parents in building faith, instilling morals and promoting academic excellence. At Trinity Academy, all are welcomed into a Christ-centered family environment which inspires its students to use their God-given talents and gifts to bring about good in our world,
Duffy continued, “Over these past 10 years, we have learned that what we share is stronger than what may be different between us. Together we have chosen dreams to aspire to, goals to achieve and plans for accomplishing these goals for all our students, our parents and families, and our faculty and staff. Throughout the history of Catholic education in our region, which began with our first legacy school, St. Casimir School in 1899, an excellent Catholic education, culture and support for all our students and families has been offered. Trinity Academy at the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center has evolved and with continued intercession from Father Walter Ciszek, our school building’s namesake, we will continue to be the vibrant school we are celebrating and honoring today. Let us always remember that God has been with us throughout our entire journey of Catholic schooling from 1899 until the present. And His great love for us will continue to keep us strong in body, mind and spirit. Today, we call on the Most Holy Trinity to come and celebrate our 10-year anniversary with us. A collection will be taken up at Mass today and all money will be given to the Father Ciszek Prayer League in thanksgiving for Father Ciszek’s intercession on behalf of our school.”
The main celebrant was the Rev. Adam C. Sedar, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, Minersville. Concelebrants were Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, pastor of Divine Mercy Church, Shenandoah; the Rev. Robert T. Finlan, pastor of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Frackville, and the Rev. Charles J. Dene, a resident in Divine Mercy Parish.
Finlan read the Gospel of St. John, which was followed by Sedar’s homily.
“Trinity Sunday. We come once again to this great feast this year, and it’s beautiful to celebrate this 10th anniversary of Trinity Academy,” Sedar said. “When you think about it, it’s just the perfect name for a school. Trinity Academy. When we speak about the Trinity — three divine persons, one eternal God — and the unity that exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit is something that God wants us to have and is something that has happened at this school to come together and to thrive throughout these years. In a way it’s the perfect name that speaks to the unity of God and the unity God wants us to have as a family of God.”
The offertory procession has families bringing to the altar the wine, bread and the chalice.
After Holy Communion, the IHM Sisters sang a rendition of “Panis Angelicus,” written by St. Thomas Aquinas and means “Bread of Angels” or “Angelic Bread.” After the sisters sang, the Trinity School Choir sang a meditation hymn entitled “He Leadeth Me.”
A check presentation was made to the IHM Sisters in thanksgiving for the ministry of the sisters at the school. Seventh-grader Mackenzie McAndrew said, “Trinity Academy at the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center is very blessed to be served by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, or as we lovingly call them, the IHM Sisters. In the beginning of March, our school celebrated an IHM Week to honor and thank the sisters who minister here at Trinity Academy. During that week, a Penny Parade was begun on the night of ‛vocation storytelling’ and has continued for the past 10 weeks. Through the generosity of our students, families and attendees at the storytelling night, we are proud to present a check to Sister Mary Ann, our principal, and Sister Catherine, Annunciation Convent’s superior, in the amount of 72,325 pennies or $723.25. Thank you, sisters, from the bottom of our hearts for helping us grow closer to Jesus.”
Eighth-grader Abbey Digris was the next speaker. Digris has been at the school for all 10 years, starting in pre-kindergarten, and she gave his personal testimony on how much the school has been such a positive aspect in her life.
“On this Trinity Sunday, let us pray for the prosperity of Trinity Academy and for our wonderful families who have provided us with so much,” Digris said.
The check was presented to both sisters by third-graders Kaitlyn Jarrett and Janelys Nunez.
At the Mass’s conclusion, Sister Mary Ann Spaetti spoke from the pulpit, saying, “It is my pleasure as principal of Trinity Academy to say on behalf of Trinity Academy, all the students, the Trinity Academy benefactors and all of our friends, thank you to Almighty God. Ten years is really an achievement, especially when there were some who said it couldn’t be done. We realize it’s not our work, but God’s work.”
After Mass, a reception was held in the school hall. Advancement Director Christine Fannick introduced state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, and Schuylkill County Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr., who presented proclamations from the state Senate and the county commissioners. Halcovage added that the commissioners declared May 22, 2016, as “Trinity Academy Day” in Schuylkill County.
Fannick thanked everybody who was part of the planning and organizing of the many activities that were part of the anniversary year committee, and made special mention of eighth-grade teacher Susan Klinger and third-grade teacher Kimberly Kringe for their efforts in preparing the children and others for the Mass.