Hastings Catholic Schools
St. Michael School in Hastings marked the feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Oct. 16 with an enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as King and Friend of the school.
The ceremony was led by Father Cyrus Rowan, chief administrative cfficer of Hastings Catholic Schools, after the daily school Mass.
Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary, a French nun, four times between 1673 and 1675, revealing His love for humankind through His Sacred Heart. He promised to pour gifts and blessings into the hearts of all those who honor the image of His Heart, and everywhere this holy image is exposed.
During the enthronement, students, faculty and staff promised to remember Christ’s role in their daily lives and, with the help of prayer and conscious effort, to grow closer to His Sacred Heart.
“He is what sets us apart and makes our school special,” said Heather Nabower, director of St. Michael’s Childcare. “Even though we all know this, it is easy to forget and set Him aside. The enthronement reminds us to slow down a little and make time to listen for and follow His word.”
Photos courtesy Hastings Catholic Schools
Preparation for the enthronement by the St. Michael Campus Ministry team began in the summer. This year’s team consists of five teachers at the school: Marg Noecker, Dana Fanning, Sr. M. Margaret Gibbons, Sr. Jacinta Fecteau, and Nabower. They devoted many hours to research, planning and preparing. They were assisted by Father William Holoubek, who previously served at St. Michael and is now pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Bruno and teaching at Aquinas Catholic in David City.
Prior to the enthronement, students and parents were encouraged to participate in novena prayers and Scripture readings with their students, beginning Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Father Jeremy Hazuka, pastor at St. Michael, celebrated Mass and began the novena in the new prayer space created in the foyer of the school. The space provides a small pew and altar with Bible, candles and a painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Throughout the following nine days, students continued learning about the Sacred Heart of Jesus and how to rely upon Him as a true friend.
After the Oct. 16 Mass, Father Rowan led prayers to the Sacred Heart and blessed a large painting and individual pictures of the Sacred Heart for the classrooms. Holding a framed image of the Sacred Heart, he escorted the students as they returned to their classrooms, then processed through the hallways of the school. At each classroom, the students joined the procession to the foyer, for the hanging of the Sacred Heart image, singing “Heart of Jesus, Reign Over Us.”
“It was a tangible witness of a priest shepherd gathering his sheep, leading them in procession to Jesus,” Noecker said.
At the foyer, Father Hazuka and Father Craig Clinch, pastor at St. Cecilia Parish, joined Father Rowan as he hung the image of Jesus on the wall in the prayer space. He proclaimed Jesus as King of the school and led the students and staff in their prayer of commitment of love and loyalty to Jesus as King. All former students, both living and deceased, were included in the prayers.
Chelsey Mangers, principal, led the students in their renewal of consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The priests present and Mangers signed the official enthronement document.
“The Enthronement has already shown to have made an impact on the spiritual lives of our students,” said Marg Noecker.
“Many have shared that the process has made them feel closer to Jesus and caused them to want to pray more. Others have shared that they feel the presence of Jesus beside them.”
Fourth-graders shared their experience in writing.
“What changed me was when Father hung the picture of Jesus,” Lily Kuzelka wrote. “It was amazing and I love that we have an enthroned school now.”
“I know we all changed because now we all know that Jesus is King and that he is watching over all of us and giving us many graces every day,” said Owen Lindauer.
The prayer space will remain a quiet and peaceful area where students may visit throughout their day to pray, reflect on the love of Jesus and share their hearts with Him.
