The student body, faculty and staff at our children’s Catholic school have experienced more than their fair share of devastating tragedies this past year. One staff member had a stroke; two lost their parents. A teacher’s niece died; a student’s parent passed away unexpectedly. There’s nothing anyone can say to make understanding or coming to terms with these tragic events easier.

But under this cloud of darkness, the school family pulled together, working behind the scenes to share God’s love with the sick and grieving.

I’m most amazed by the students’ generosity and genuine kindness. How do you talk to another child your age who has just lost a parent? As an adult, I struggle, feeling inadequate, in the face of such pain, but as usual, the students seem to follow their intuition, inspired by the daily kindness they witness. I found out after the fact when one of my children made a Powerpoint presentation for the faculty member who had a stroke; and another made a card for a grieving child. Most importantly, my children came home from school and asked if we could pray for every one of these hurting people. And they followed up with us regularly, asking if we had heard any news, if those hurting were going to be okay.

“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Cor. 12:26).

I’ve seen this scripture verse in action over and over again during this school year. And the Catholic school community’s actions remind me over and over again that within our schools are students who are learning empathy, praying together for others and sharing Christ’s love with those around them.

So often we think about evangelizing our children, and that is and will continue to be important. But the last article in this issue of the magazine comes from Sister Mary Agnes Greiffendorf, OP, St. Gertrude School’s principal. She tells how, as a child, she brought the faith and prayers she learned at her Catholic school home to her parents and, over time, evangelized them. I continually see this very thing happening at my children’s Catholic school. They learn so much, not only about their faith, but about how to put their faith into action, then bring it home to us and share it with others.

As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week this month, I’m grateful for many things that they offer, but I will always be most grateful for the way our schools help foster the whole child: mind, body and soul.