A celebration of education

Happy Birthday isn’t a traditional song usually heard at a Catholic mass, but for the congregation at St. Mary’s Catholic Church this one particular hymn was very special.

The student orchestra strung in unison and the worshippers sang as one celebrating the 50^th birthday of St. Mary’s Catholic School, the only institution of its kind in Odessa.

“It’s a big milestone for us,” Linda Navarro, a church member and mother of two children at St. Mary’s said. “For me as a Catholic, it means my child (can) come to school and not only get what I think is a quality education academically, but also be able to talk about Jesus and learn about Jesus.”

Students, teachers, parents and members of the community gathered in the church Tuesday afternoon and celebrated mass with Bishop Michael Pfeifer, Bishop of San Angelo. He emphasized the importance of not only education, but the importance of Catholic education.

“It raises people in their values and morals,” Steven Ramirez, a father of two children as St. Mary’s said. “Young kids can learn at an early age.”

Following the mass celebration, the school, which began in 1960, was rededicated by Bishop Pfeifer and all in attendance gathered for an after school picnic of juice, snacks and hot dogs. The start of a 50-year anniversary celebration planned to last the entire academic year.

“It means God’s faithfulness to the school, God’s faithfulness to his people, giving them the chance to be in a Catholic school,” Sister Alicia Realino said. “It doesn’t only mean academic excellence, it is getting to know more about your faith, to be spiritually and morally developed.”