A few years ago, Mr. Mailloux '72 served on a team visiting Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton and suggested that I visit to see their amazing Masses and Theology program. This past Tuesday I headed down along with our Guidance Director Ms. Risdal and our Freshman Theology teacher Ms. Girard. The Masses at Cardinal Spellman are, well, mind blowing. Imagine an auditorium in the inner city with over 670 students, a 100 person choir, and everyone signing and clapping and getting totally into Mass! The celebrant was Father Oscar Pratt, a very energetic and powerful preacher who really engaged the kids. All of the students knew the responses, knew all the hand motions for the songs, and really seemed to love being there. The music was contemporary and was accompanied by a band. You can listen to some clips of their songs here (the quality isn't all that great though).
Following this powerful experience we met with the chair of the Religion Department to talk about their senior curriculum. Each senior is assigned to a ministry group ranging from service to prayer to acts of mercy to planning for Mass to retreat work. They perform these ministries during the year and also learn about them in class. They each get a unique t-shirt which they can wear to Mass and when they're doing events.
I love this model as it makes theology "hands on" and lived. There needs to be a balance of "book learning" and "doing" as our faith should be lived out.
The teachers said it took about 10 years for Cardinal Spellman to be where they are today, it took a lot of work and relationship building...and it works. This school is a jewel in the Archdiocese of Boston and a true model for us. You can learn more about their work by listening to an appearance some folks from the school made on a radio station in Boston earlier this year. You can listen here.
It was a very inspiring and powerful day.
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