High schoolers share the faith

Thirty-five juniors from Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School in Bellevue shared their faith with students at nearby St. Bernadette School as part of a service project marking October as the month of the rosary.

The high schoolers led kindergarten through fourth-grade students through a shortened version of the Joyful Mysteries Oct. 3, using short stories and discussions to help the young students relate to Mary’s role in the scenes. They also talked with students about trusting God and seeing Jesus as their friend.

Fifth- through eighth-grade students were taught about Pope Francis’ “five-finger prayer,” using fingers as prompts to pray for certain people. The high school students also helped them make five-knot bracelets to remind them to pray that prayer. 

“I think the experience was crucial for the elementary students as they were able to see big kids praying and active in their faith,” said Michelle Sweetmon, campus minister at Gross Catholic.

“Not only is the rosary important to St. Bernadette and Gross Catholic because of both schools’ devotion to our Holy Mother, but the Gospel that week called us to have faith like a child,” she said.