Stella Bray (left) and Celia Smith, both St. James Academy, Lenexa, students and Xavier graduates, lead the program on Sept. 12 for a blessing of Xavier’s new rosary garden which the two, along with Xavier graduate and student at Maur Hill-Mount Academy Matthew Hood, helped construct on the school’s campus. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org
LEAVENWORTH — Three Xavier Elementary School students might have just graduated from here in May. But they came back this summer to ensure they had left a little bit of themselves behind.
Over the summer, three members of Xavier’s class of 2025 — Stella Bray, Celia Smith and Matthew Hood — and with permission from the high schools they would be attending, spearheaded a rosary garden on the school’s campus as their community service project.
The graduates then returned on Sept. 12 for a blessing by Father Glenn Snow, O. Carm., of Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Parish, as well as to lead a rosary.
“Today, we gather to ask God’s blessing upon this rosary garden,” said Father Glenn at the blessing. “In this separate place set apart from the noise and traffic around us, may all who enter find rest for their spirits, peace for their hearts and strength for their journey of faith.”
Matthew Hood, a freshman at Maur Hill-Mount Academy and Xavier School graduate, stands by Father Glenn Snow, O. Carm., pastor of Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Parish in Leavenworth, as the latter blesses Xavier’s new rosary garden, which Hood helped construct. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
After a reading from the Gospel of Matthew, he then sprinkled the garden with holy water and prayed.
“God of all creation, you planted the Garden of Eden as a place of beauty and rest,” he said. “Your son Jesus sought the quiet of the hills to pray to you in silence. Bless this rosary garden, which we dedicate to you today. May it be a refuge for prayer, a space to reflect upon your word and a sanctuary where your people find consolation and hope.
The three graduates then led a rosary, “walking” the beads from stone to stone in the garden.
Making an impact
Catholic high schools in the archdiocese require community service and many of them have shifted to specific projects that can make an impact rather than just an accumulation of hours.
But each student had to propose the project to their high schools to make sure it would fulfill that requirement.
Once they got that approval, they let Xavier principal Janelle Hartegan know this was where they wanted to leave their mark.
“It’s humbling,” Hartegan said. “There are many organizations where they could give their time. When you have students who choose to give back to their elementary school, it was ‘yes!’
“We work hard to instill that faith foundation and formation, and we pray that it carries on with them well past high school.
“It was an honor for us that they chose to do this.”
A drone captures an overhead photo of Xavier School’s new rosary garden. The garden was the brainchild of three Xavier graduates who worked to get the garden built. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Bray, who is a freshman at St. James Academy in Lenexa, said they started talking about the project in March or April, started working on it in May and then were hard at it throughout the summer.
All three students said that the project rose out of their desire to give back to the school that gave them so much.
“I wanted to make the rosary garden at Xavier because I have been at Xavier my entire life,” Bray said. “It’s really given a lot to me and made me the person I am, so I wanted to give back to the school.”
“This school helped me a lot with my faith life,” agreed Smith, “so I really wanted to give back and show my gratitude for the school.” Smith is also attending St. James.
Stella’s mother Liz Bray was glad to see her daughter not only work with her former classmates, but also learn to solicit support from the wider community.
“It was really cool to watch them work together and with the community for support, whether that be for donations or just coming to help with the heavy lifting,” she said. “But also, to create a legacy project that future eighth grade classes can add to.”
It was an honor for Hood, a freshman at Maur Hill-Mount Academy in Atchison, to come back and be a part of the evening.
“I love this school a lot,” Hood said. “I’ve been here since kindergarten, and I always love to come back every time I have the opportunity.”
“I saw a light in his eyes of wanting to do this,” said his mother, Mary Hood. “It was a complete honor to see him and two of his peers be a part of this.”
Great legacy
The community turnout was beyond anyone’s expectations.
“It blew me away,” Smith said. “I was shocked by how many people showed up, especially younger kids that wanted to be here.”
“I think we exceed the RSVP amount, which is always the goal,” agreed Hartegan. “It was warm out there in the sun and it was nice to see so many people. We had the Sisters of Charity, many families and alumni, and current and former board of trustees members. Just a huge group of supporters.”
Father Glenn Snow, O. Carm., pastor of Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Parish in Leavenworth, blesses Xavier’s new rosary garden. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Smith was proud to be able to leave a part of herself in that garden, and she hopes to see future classes add onto it.
“It’s amazing to think I can leave a little piece of myself — so to speak — to help the school,” Smith said. “Hopefully, future eighth grade students will be able to add onto it.”
“Xavier has given her wings in order to be able to step into being more of a grown-up in her spiritual life,” said her mother, Jessica King. “What a great legacy and blessing it is for us to be able to come back and give a little bit back to the school that has given us a lot.”
The way these three gave back to Xavier models how Hartegan wants to see her students give back to whatever community they choose: that it is impactful and rooted in Christ.
It will also be a nice welcome for anyone who arrives at Xavier’s campus.
“The first thing people will see when they pull up our driveway will be that rosary garden,” Hartegan said.
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