By Erika Anderson

Staff Writer

ALPHARETTA-Wearing white pins with the phrase "Catholic Schools are Great," printed in red letters, students at Holy Redeemer School kicked off the new school's first Catholic Schools Week with a Mass Jan. 31.

Msgr. R. Donald Kiernan, pastor of All Saints Church, Dunwoody, celebrated the school-wide morning Mass in the gymnasium.

"The happiest person here is me," he told the students. "We're here to celebrate this very special Mass to initiate Catholic Schools Week at Holy Redeemer School. I've been looking forward to this all weekend."

Msgr. Kiernan told the students that the power in his house had gone out over the weekend and he was worried he wouldn't be able to celebrate Mass. He said he was pleased to be among the students.

At the beginning of the Mass, students representing each class processed down the center aisle, each holding a bright yellow star with their class name outlined in glitter. The stars represent the theme of Catholic Schools Week, "Lighting the Way to a New Century." The students were encouraged to be a light to others.

Msgr. Kiernan blessed the parents, students and teachers in attendance at the Mass, which was celebrated on the feast day of St. John Bosco, patron saint of Catholic schools.

Reflecting on the Gospel of Matthew in which a landowner gives his workers coins to invest, Msgr. Kiernan encouraged the children to be like the first two workers who invested their money wisely, not like the last worker who buried his money for fear of losing it.

"We all have to do something to contribute our spirit to the world," he said. "In your lives at Holy Redeemer School, you have to learn to do something. You have to at least try."

As he walked back toward the altar, he winked at the children and recited an old rhyme.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven-all good children go to heaven," he reminded the children with a smile.

At the offertory, children brought up the bread and wine, along with other gifts signifying the first Catholic Schools Week of the new century.

A student representative of each class brought up a piece of a banner, which was assembled near the altar, with all the pieces forming the shooting star logo of Catholic Schools Week around the country.

The students also brought up 2000 prayers and wishes that they had written. The intentions will be buried in a time capsule at Holy Redeemer, to be opened in the year 2010.

Finally, students brought forth thank you letters to their parents, expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to attend Holy Redeemer School.

Following Communion, Msgr. Kiernan was presented with a Beanie Baby red cardinal, the school's mascot.

The students then headed back to class, lining up to give high-fives to Msgr. Kiernan and Father Joe Corbett, administrator of St. Brigid's Mission of St. Benedict Church in Duluth. Mass for the mission is celebrated at Holy Redeemer School.

As she watched her students process out of the gymnasium, Principal Mary Reiling expressed excitement in celebrating the school's first Catholic Schools Week. Holy Redeemer School is one of three new archdiocesan elementary schools to open this year.

"I think it's especially significant to the parents," she said. "So many of the parents in this community wanted their kids in Catholic schools. Seventy-five percent of our students come from the public schools, so it is especially meaningful that this is the first Catholic Schools Week for almost everyone."

Reiling also said that Catholic Schools Week will give the school a chance to celebrate its successes.

"It's great to see the school off to such a good start," she said. "Catholic Schools Week gives us the opportunity to start to see the unity with all the Catholic schools across the United States. It's also really great to finally be a part of all the Catholic schools in the archdiocese."