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Holy Family students participate in baptism lesson
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Holy Family School first-grade student Julianna Ramos and teacher Kristin McCloud held baby "Jason Max" as Holy Family pastor Monsignor William Connell performed a baptism.
By TIM CLEVELAND
Holy Family School first-grade teachers Maria Valley and Kristin McCloud teamed up for a project on Oct. 15, with their combined 32 students participating in a hands-on lesson about the sacrament of baptism.
Baby dolls were brought from home and Valley and McCloud assigned the roles of parents and Godparents to the students in their classes.
“The first graders prepare for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion in the second grade by learning that they become children of God through Baptism,” Valley said. “This is usually taught in the first grade.”
Each child took their baby to the school’s pastor, Monsignor William Connell, who blessed the “parents” and “Godparents” and proceeded to “baptize” the dolls.
Valley said doing the project is a good way to teach the children the importance of baptism, an event they didn’t remember receiving themselves and one they most likely have never witnessed.
“The event was a big success because these children do not remember being baptized,” she said. “This reenactment shows them how the sacrament was received when they were babies.”
Two of the students enjoyed the project, with one saying, “I was excited to see the water poured on the baby,” while the other said, “I didn’t know that’s how you did it.”