My Journey to Holiness

...a class project assigned for Religion with the objective of creating a visual representation of "spiritual helps" to keep us on the right path. I told the kids that I was going to be copying things from their posters, so I might as well share them here with all of you. I got all teary-eyed when they were doing their presentations because I was so impressed with them all. Here are my favorite snippets from each project...

Mark - "Love is the key to God's kingdom!"

Adrian - "The footsteps on the path are the good things we do to become holy."

Brian - (re: a picture of Jesus on the cross) "Look at his face. Such a kind a gentle face. How could you question who he is? This man brings us closer to God."

Elizabeth - has a picture of a relative of hers who became a Saint...St. Toribio Romo...who died at the age of 22 as a martyr during the Christian persecution in Mexico

Jessica - copied Javan's "Thank You" poem...I didn't recognize it when she had read it for the class, and I was like, "Wow, that's so inspiring..." She actually got it from 2_be_love...hahaha....duh, Ms. S (I say to myself)

Veronica - (she says to the devil) "So bring on your ultra-super-whatever because I'm ready." Also included Titus 3:3-5..."But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us not because of righteous things we had done but because of his mercy."

Mary - her collage included pictures of things and people who lead her closer to God...I especially liked the pictures she took of her scapular and rosary set against her St. Paul blue and grey plaid uniform skirt...that was cool. =)

Charlotte - pictures of her and her cousins receiving the sacraments...it's so great that she sees the importance of those events in her life...

Eric - ah yes, the one who said he had nothing to put on his poster did a pretty good job...simple words saying so much...LOVE, FAITH, PRAYER, CHOICES, SPIRIT, HELP...that's definitely not nothing...

Lily - "The rosary gets me closer to God by praying every day. If you pray every single day, it's like taking one step closer to Him. Rosaries are very powerful to pray because it's a weapon against the devil. And if you pray the rosary, it's taking one step away from the devil."

Michelle A. - wrote out the Our Father, Glory Be, and Angel of God prayers in Spanish....I liked that...seeing the universality of our faith crossing all cultures for all people of all times...

Monica - her "Daily Pilgrimage to Purgatory" booklet...I need to get myself one of those...here's an excerpt from the origin of this devotion: "In the writings of St. Margaret Mary we read: 'In union with the divine Heart of Jesus make a short pilgrimage to Purgatory at night. Offer Him the activities of the day and ask Him to apply His merits to the suffering souls. At the same time, implore them to obtain for you the grace to live and die in the love and friendship of this divine Heart. Fortunate you will be, if you succeed in obtaining the deliverance for some of these imprisoned souls, for you will gain as many friends in heaven."

Alyssa G. - prayer to St. Maria Goretti: "Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth,with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen."

Justin - in the middle of his poster is a drawing that his little sister made for him saying "Jesus is alive!" (so cute!)...he also shows the beauty of the cross in so many different forms...wow...

Amanda - "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world." Amen...

Yilean - I wish you could see this one...it's beautiful...especially the pictures of the saints...Therese, John Bosco, Joan of Arc, Bernadette...

Natalia - hers was filled with sayings with so much wisdom..."Confess your sins and come closer to God...He is waiting."

"Love is more beautiful in the company of fear because it is in this way that it becomes stronger. The more one loves God, the less one feels fear." - Padre Pio

"Today I let go and let God take charge of this life of mine. Now in the dark corners of my soul His light is beginning to shine. All the cares and worries that I carried around for so long He has lifted them from my shoulders and filled my heart with love. Problems that were overwhelming suddenly seem very small, and come what may, starting today, I know I can handle them all."

Brianna A. - she put my picture in the middle of a cross...I was thinking to myself, "Hmm...I've never been in the middle of a cross like that before." But then I realized that it's exactly where God has been calling me to be...right there with Jesus...

Marissa - she found this poem about cancer and read it to the class...I thought of Auntie Clarita and a few other people I know who had to struggle with some form of it. It was such a comfort to hear...
"Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the Spirit,
It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection."
- Dan Richardson

Brianna C. - "Why do these people lead me closer to God?" (excerpts)
- Kenny (brother) leads me closer to God by not doing anything dumb that would make God mad
- My parents help me get closer to God by telling me not to listen to anyone who makes fun of my religion
- Karina and Alicia (friends) help me get closer to God by me seeing them just getting confirmed makes me excited for my future as a Catholic
- Christina helps me get closer to God by showing me that it doesn't matter how old you are, anyone could be a follower of God
- Jesus leads me closer to God by helping me to understand better what God wants from me

...okay I have 35 kids, so I'm going to finish tomorrow...=) Gosh, I'm really going to miss them. At least I can say that for three years of my life, I was a part of this school...this community...I was a part of their lives in a way that not very many people get to experience. Nothing in this world would be able to replace the lessons I've learned from them as their teacher. My students have been such an integral part of my own growth and healing. Jesus, I met you today...I meet you every day in each one of them...

Maureen just stopped by...I love her...yes, my mom...one of the many here at SPOC...asking about how things are going...telling me I need to go home (I'm at school right now). I guess it's about that time...I do need to rest and grade papers, too. Progress reports come out on Wednesday...

Some of the kids found this site, so you may notice some of them tagging...they all asked for the address...hi, kids! =) We have Mission Olympics tomorrow...I wish I could play volleyball! But no overexertion, I know. I think they're going to ask Lyn-Lyn to play...faculty and staff against the 8th graders....we beat them last year! Lyn-Lyn also visited during religion today and she came to see me a little while ago telling me about talent show try-outs. Apparently there were 30 kids at lunch doing the "Anything" dance...yeah, she's teaching it to the 2nd graders...they even have a little Jesus...how cute is that! I can't wait to see it...everyone's been talking about it. I'm so glad she's here...

Alrightee, I'm going home now. Until tomorrow...blessings to you, my friends...

Do not fear or be disturbed

"Who can harm you if you devote yourselves to doing good? If you suffer for the sake of righteousness, happy are you. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed as they are, but bless the Lord Christ in your hearts. Always have an answer ready when you are called upon to account for your hope, but give it simply and with respect. Keep your conscience clear so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your upright, Christian living. Better to suffer for doing good, if it is God's will, than for doing wrong." (1Pt 3:13-17)

"Given that Christ suffered in His human life, arm yourselves with this certainty: the one who suffers in his body has broken with sin so as to spend the rest of his life following the will of God and not human passions." (1Pt 4:1-2)

"The end of all things is near; keep your minds calm and sober for prayer. Above all, let your love for one another be sincere, for love covers a multitude of sins. Welcome one another into your houses without complaining. Serve one another with the gifts each of you received, this becoming good managers of the varied graces of God. If you speak, deliver the word of God; if you have a special ministry, let it be seen as God's power so that, in everything, God may be glorified in Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen." (1Pt 4:7-11)

Praise God for St. Peter...for Scripture...for faith...for hope...for love.