St. Anthony School:
Where Jesus is Teacher

Harper Bueno, 5, asks Sister Mary Meghan Roush, SOLT to light a candle, so she can say a prayer. Once Harper finished praying, the preschooler from St. Anthony School snuffed out the candle and moved on to another activity in the atrium, a newly renovated religious education room at the school.

Rebecca Esparza | for STC

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The young children from St. Anthony Catholic School in Robstown waited restlessly to enter the newly built atrium. There was some giggling and fidgeting, typical for rambunctious and curious five-year-olds. But as they stepped into the newly designed portable building, one-by-one their demeanor immediately transformed.

Each child became instantly silent. They sat down with reverence and did not steer their eyes away from Sister Mary Meghan Roush with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), who held up laminated cards with their names. Each child took their card and found an activity to engage with in the recently redesigned atrium at St. Anthony, designed to help children learn contemplation and enjoyment of God.

The atrium contains various Catechesis of the Good Shepherd activities based on parts of the liturgy such as Mass, baptism, sacraments and prayer. Children have the opportunity to participate in hands-on demonstrations while reflecting on scripture.

“Right now, our Montessori students use the atrium on a more regular basis,” said Anna Gonzalez, principal at St. Anthony School. “The long term goal is that it will be fit to receive all the children in school. We are beginning with level one of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and will eventually build up to the older grades.”

Currently, the older children are utilizing the atrium as a place of spiritual meditation and reflection, she added. 

“It’s a time to be still and listen to our Lord through scripture and literature,” Gonzalez said.

“Having religious education allows us to carry out our mission of forming the whole child. Catholic education provides each of us a daily opportunity to have God at the center of our lives,” she explained.

Sister Mary Meghan, who is in her first year as a novitiate, works at the school part-time. She knows firsthand how much the children love the atrium.

“One of the boys loves it so much, he asks me everyday if he can go to the atrium,” she said. “The same boy used to throw tantrums every time we left the atrium, and I can relate…sometimes I don’t want to leave either! The atrium truly is a gift to the children and to us.”

Sister Mary Meghan added that she sees her work in ensuring the children are grounded in their faith goes best by letting God lead the way.

“I let the Lord teach the children to be grounded in the faith. The more I get out of the way, the easier it is for the kids to contemplate the words of Scripture and enjoy their relationship with the Lord,” she explained.

Sister Maria Aurora Villagomez, SOLT also an aide at St. Anthony, led the redesign of the new Atrium, including personally completing the artwork on the walls, which creates the perfect ambiance for immersive learning and completes the religious experience.
 

Sister Maria Aurora Villagomez, SOLT works with Santiago Sanchez, 4, as he traces his finger along a string illustrating where Jesus traveled. The lesson starts with the Last Supper and ends with the cross at Calvary. Rebecca Esparza | for STC

“I didn’t think I would be able to do it, but God gave us the exact materials we needed, and it happened,” she said. “We wished this for the good of His children, and He approved.”

In a world that has become full of immediacy and stress, Sister Maria said the children become overwhelmed with a sense of peace once they step into the atrium.

“The world is rush, rush all the time. Children want to stop and see the beauty of this world they recently came into. Children are peaceful when they are surrounded by love and peace. Before God they are naturally humble in their posture and their souls,” she said. “They have such a sense of calmness once they enter the atrium, it is very special.”

Sister Maria added that teaching the children to be grounded in their faith is not something she consciously sets out to accomplish, but instead, she shares her love of God with the children in a way they understand with their pure hearts.

“I give the love I have for God to the children and simply invite the children to share my treasure. Faith is contagious, and it’s easy to share my faith with the children, especially when they are so open to receiving God’s love.”

Editors Note: The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd teaching method is adopted by most Catholic schools to form the religious life of children.