The second Wednesday of every month at St. Rita’s School for the Deaf is always a day for the Campus Ministry meeting. I have been attending the Campus meeting with the Campus Ministry team for the past year. Each time I attend, I am fascinated by the way teachers, after their normal school day, come together with great zeal to discuss how to boost the spiritual activities of the school through prayers, Masses, Stations of the Cross, and adorations. In other words, the planning for adoration starts with this Campus team’s collective efforts.
The school adoration at St. Rita’s School for the Deaf is an event that brings together the entire school community, regardless of their religious affiliation. During this adoration, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar, and students from all grades come to the chapel to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist. It is a truly inspiring sight to behold, as Catholic students kneel, pray the rosary, and meditate while non-Catholic students read their religious texts and ask questions about the Catholic faith.
This exchange of ideas and openness to learning about one another’s beliefs is a testament to the inclusive and welcoming environment fostered at St. Rita’s. The planning for adoration is a collaborative effort led by the Campus Ministry team, who work tirelessly to ensure that these spiritual activities are not only meaningful but also accessible to all students.
The February school adoration at St. Rita has come and gone, yet the memory of that day still brings a smile to my face, particularly with the preschool children’s solemn entrance into the chapel, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed it. As they made their way into the chapel, one could only hear the little angels tiptoeing, each making eye contact with the other to decide where to sit. A pure sign that “here, God dwells among His people.” With every passing second, every child fixes his or her eyes on Jesus present in the Eucharist, a reminder of Jesus’s invitation to “let the little children come to Him, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”
As St. Rita’s School for the Deaf continues to nurture the spiritual growth of its students, the adoration at the chapel stands as a shining example of how faith can bring people together, regardless of their religious background. We therefore encourage you to take the time to visit this unique chapel, especially on the day of school adoration, and experience for yourself the serene environment where faith, hope, and charity speak volumes.
Fr. Charles Onumaegbu
