By Father Edward O’Connor, Pastor, St. Michael’s Church, And Judy Hackett, Religious Education Coordinator St. Michael’s Church

Back in January, it seemed that this July at St. Michael’s in Gainesville would be no different from any other. It promised to be a hot month during which the annual week of Vacation Bible School would be held. By April, we suspected that this July would be special. Now that July is over, we are able to appreciate how truly special it has indeed been. The big difference this year has been made by the presence of a group of eight sisters from Merion, Pennsylvania.

Through the effort of Sister Mary Jane Stapleton of the Office of Religious Education, St. Michael’s of Gainesville, Prince of Peace of Buford, and Good Shepherd of Cumming have had the good fortune to share these eight sisters for the past three weeks. The sisters are Sisters of Mercy, whose Motherhouse is in Merion, Pennsylvania, and make up the entire novice class and their Director of Novices. Members of this brave group include Sister Mary Mester, Director of Novices, and Sisters Mary Maas, Mary Pat Garvin, Ruth Hennessy, Mary Miller, Carol Tropiane, Pat Kennedy and Kathy Bednarcik. During their three weeks here, they planned a Youth Week, Vacation Bible School and an Adult Ministry Program for each parish.

The sisters arrived in Georgia in time to celebrate the Fourth of July at St. John’s in Hapeville and then we put them right to work. Our first week at St. Michael’s was Youth Week (July 9-13) -- something entirely new to us. Sisters Mary Maas and Mary Pat Garvin made it a tremendous success.

Between 15 and 20 teens came and we all know that the week was great because they came everyday. When the only negative comments are “Why can’t we have two weeks?” and “Why do we have to go home at noon? Why can’t we stay until 2 p.m. like we did on Monday?” you know that you had a winner. And that we had!!

The week ended with a liturgy planned entirely by the teens. They baked the bread, prepared the prayer of the faithful, served as cantors and lectors, selected the songs and played their musical instruments. It’s a week not to be soon forgotten. Thanks for a great week Sisters Mary and Mary Pat!!

Because of the response to the Youth Week, two more activities were planned. A trip to the Trappist Monastery at Conyers was made on Saturday, July 21. On July 25, young girls of the parishes spent an afternoon at the Sisters’ house swimming, chatting and picnicking.

Vacation Bible School was held at St. Michael’s (July 16-20) in conjunction with Grace Episcopal Church of Gainesville. The teachers from Grace Church were just as excited about working with the sisters as we were. Sister Mary Miller and Annie Gress of St. Michael’s woke us up each morning with some of the best music we’ve ever heard. Even the toddlers in the teachers’ nursery got to meet Sister Mary. One toddler promptly found his “play” guitar and has been singing the “Joy, Joy, Joy Down in his Heart” ever since.

Sister Carol Tropiano agreed to take the third graders and Sister Ruth Hennessy taught the fourth graders while Sister Mary Mester spent the week with fifth graders. Sister Carol worked with Janet Kelly of St. Michael’s and Sister Ruth worked with Cheryl Hinderscheid of St. Michael’s. Janet and Cheryl probably had the best fortune of all of us in working with the Sisters so closely and they did say that their week was very special. The week was entirely too short and the younger children, like our older teens, also asked for two weeks of Vacation Bible School. Our V.B.S. finale was the launching of a “prayer balloon” which tangled in two trees and still remains in the second tree on the church grounds. If the enthusiasm of the children was any indication, the prayers were most certainly heard.

The Adult Ministry Program took the form of a weekly Scripture/Prayer session in each of the three parishes. All who participated in these came away with a renewed appreciation of Sacred Scripture and a deeper insight into the person of Jesus. Sisters Mary Mester, Kathy Bednarcik, and Pat Kennedy, who conducted the sessions, made the Scriptures come alive through their deep personal faith and feeling for the Word of God. We become attuned to the common human experiences out of which the Psalmists praised their God -- and our God. We reflected on the simple and humble, yet so profound life of Jesus, through which the eternal love of God is revealed to us. We were challenged by the Epistles to live each minute as Jesus Himself lived -- a long, hard road but eternal in its rewards. We came away refreshed in spirit and somewhat hungry for more. What better testimony to good teachers?

These terrific Sisters have touched many lives at St. Michael’s, Good Shepherd, and Prince of Peace these last three weeks. We, who met and spent time with them, are very much richer for the experience. All of at St. Michael’s, Prince of Peace and Good Shepherd wish each of them well this coming year and sincerely hope they will come again, and real soon.