13 Mount St. Michael Students Receive Church’s Sacraments

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The Catholic community at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx has 13 new members thanks to a new religious education program that prepared them to receive the sacraments of initiation—baptism, First Communion and confirmation.

During a Mass March 31, students, faculty and other members of the school community gathered as two of their classmates, senior Yodesh James and freshman Kevin Singleton, were baptized and received first Holy Communion.

Father Robert Abbatiello, O.F.M. Cap., pastor of Good Shepherd parish in Manhattan and celebrant of the Mass, administered the sacraments.

“It was complete silence,” said Sister Joan Whittle, O.P., a school librarian, who along with the campus ministry team and other faculty members prepared the students for the sacraments. The teachers involved were Brother Brian Poulin, F.M.S., Valerie Savino, Amantina Reyes and Mark Dilione.

Sister Joan noted the rarity of silence when 800 boys occupy the gymnasium as she commented on the sincere respect on their faces as they watched their classmates receive the sacraments. “These boys were standing up for their faith. They weren’t ashamed of it. You could see that on the rest of the kids faces. They were in awe,” she said.

Brother Stephen Schlitte, F.M.S., the school’s principal, said the program, begun by the campus ministry team, sought to answer the question, “What can we do more to meet the spiritual needs of the students?”

“I think as a Catholic school we are meant to evangelize and this is certainly is one way of evangelizing,” he said. “I’m very grateful to our campus ministry people. It was a great way to share the faith with the kids.”

The boys were prepared on eight Wednesdays in hour-long, after-school sessions that covered the entire Apostles Creed; the meaning of the sacraments; and the Commandments. That was in addition to the school’s daily religion classes.

Plans are in place to repeat the program next year, and students are already signing up.

The 13 boys reeived confirmation at Our Lady of Grace Church in the Bronx during the Easter Vigil, April 4. Father Rudolph Gonzalez is the pastor there.

Yodesh James was one of the boys confirmed during the Easter Vigil. He also received the sacraments of baptism and first Holy Communion at the March 31 Mass.

“I’ve been going to Catholic school since nursery school,” he told CNY. “I felt that I was old enough to make the decision by myself so I made the decision to do it.”

He added, “Now that I’m baptized, I’ve gone to Sunday Mass. I’m accepted into the Church as a new member and I’m grateful.”

Yodesh James and Kevin Singleton were baptized, received First Holy Communion and were confirmed.

SeanPatrick McGing and David Valentin received First Holy Communion at the March Mass at Mount St. Michael and were confirmed at the Easter Vigil with their classmates.

The following boys were confirmed: Tyler Alexander, Justin Bautista, Don Bird Jr., Armando Bunjaj, Samuel Martinez, Justin Morel, Olson Pereira, Julian Stewart and Andres Texidor.