Holy Week is special to school

By Meredith Mayberry
Edited by Amanda Crabtree and Kelly Morse

Sacred Heart Academy’s elementary school is finding new ways to illustrate their love for Jesus this week.

The students are not only drawing on Christ’s love, but literally learning to draw his face, said Mary Gagnon, director of religious education for the Sacred Heart Parish, located at 302 South Kinney Blvd.

A mix of first through sixth graders at the Academy will focus on the special symbols of Holy Week, a celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ.

“The face of Christ with the crown of thorns will be a main symbol,” Gagnon said. “The children will learn to draw this.”

The elementary school celebration is called Holy Week Special and will include special lessons in religious symbols as well as art projects, such as making crosses out of sand.

"They'll make pins out of beads," Gagnon said. "They'll be shaped like crosses, but they're made like those American Flag pins."

Group projects are also an important part of the week.

“The children will make a giant cross puzzle with their own personalized puzzle pieces,” Gagnon said.

Holy Week began last Sunday, Palm Sunday, and will last until Easter Sunday, March 23.

There was an all-school Mass held on Wednesday to celebrate the somber feel of the week, she said.

“All parents are invited and encouraged to join us,” according to the school’s official Web site, www.sha.net.

Gagnon said Holy Week is, for the most part, a Parish event. There will be Parish celebrations throughout the week, including Thursday night and Friday afternoon Masses.

“We focus on the somberness and toughness of the week and continue to try and model our lives after Jesus,” Gagnon said.