West Bank Catholic schools are ‘Together in Faith‘

(Photo courtesy of Academy of Our Lady; for more images, please visit the Clarion Herald’s Facebook page)

Earlier this month, every West Bank Catholic school with students in grades 5-12 gathered at Academy of Our Lady High School (AOL) in Marrero for a daylong celebration called “Together in Faith: Westbank Strong.” 

Organizers said the goal of the event was not only to gather and celebrate as a West Bank family, but to also remind young people of their call to holiness and happiness, as exemplified by AOL’s patron saint of St. John Bosco. The Italian-born priest founded the Salesian congregation in 1859 and dedicated his life to the evangelization and education of youth.

The celebration began with Mass in AOL’s gym with Salesian Father Steve Ryan, main celebrant and director/head of school at Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero. Numerous co-celebrant priests represented parishes from across the West Bank.

After Mass, the boys headed to the campus of the all-boys Archbishop Shaw and the girls stayed at AOL to compete in friendly, field day-style games such as the egg-and-spoon, bouncy ball, sack and two-legged races. Both groups of young people reconvened at AOL for an event-ending Disney sing-along and a skit from Archbishop Shaw.

The following elementary schools joined host AOL and co-host Archbishop Shaw for the “Young Salesian” day of fun and fellowship: Immaculate Conception and Visitation of Our Lady (Marrero); St. Andrew the Apostle (Algiers); St. Anthony and St. Cletus (Gretna); Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Westwego); and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Belle Chasse). and St. Cletus, Gretna.