The aroma of Italian flavors, the delight of students dishing out spaghetti and meatballs, and the stories about a French nun who spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus were a recipe for a special celebration at St. Margaret Mary School in Harrisburg as the community marked its feast day on October 16.
And it was sparked by the students’ desire to raise funds for their school.
“We had some needs around the school building for upkeep – like a new water fountain, some playground items – and the kids were looking for a way to play a part in helping out,” said principal JoAnn Cantos.
With a bit of brainstorming, they settled on a spaghetti fundraiser as part of the lunch period on October 16, held after a prayer service on the feast day of the patron saint.
“A parent who owns a local restaurant donated the noodles, the sauce and the meatballs. We purchased the salad, bread and desserts, and the Student Council and eighth graders got to work with spreading the word,” she said.
The student-led group prepped the lunch and served the meals, dishing out more than 120 plates of pasta for fellow students and parishioners and raising more than $1,000. Remaining funds will be retained and rolled into future fundraisers for upcoming eighth-grade projects for St. Margaret Mary.
“They did a fantastic job keeping things running during the dinner, almost like a restaurant,” she said. “Some of them served the parents and students who were eating at the school, some made and labeled to-go orders, and they were responsible for cleaning up by wiping down tables, cleaning the floor, and making sure the younger students had help with their trays. Every single one of them stepped up and were successful with their individual role and with helping each other out if someone needed a break. They really exhibited teamwork.”
In classrooms that day, teachers offered special lessons about St. Margaret Mary, to whom Jesus appeared in a series of visions beginning in 1673 to reveal ways to venerate His Sacred Heart and the Twelve Promises made to those who venerate and promote the devotion.
Cantos said she was particularly inspired by a number of kindergarten students who were eager to tell her about their patron on the feast day.
“They were telling me, ‘Did you know that God spoke through St. Margaret Mary? He gave His message to her about His Sacred Heart! He chose her to do it!’ They were so proud of their school’s patron saint,” she said.
“Everything we did to celebrate our feast day, we did together. Every student was part of it in some way,” she added.
The school is planning to continue its special lunches to the community and challenge students in service and responsibility.
“I am so proud of our eighth graders and our Student Council, and I look forward to what the future holds for this new endeavor,” Cantos said.
Learn more about St. Margaret Mary School at www.stmmparishschool.org.
(Photos by Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness.)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
