By Cass Lievsay, Special To The Bulletin

ALPHARETTA—The students, faculty and families of Holy Redeemer School held a Eucharistic Day of Renewal Sept. 27 in response to Archbishop John F. Donoghue’s call to bring this renewal to every part of the archdiocese.

The all-day program was inspired by the June 16 Corpus Christi celebration at the Georgia International Convention Center.

“We planned this day right after last summer’s ‘Come to Me’ program because we felt the need to carry out the message we received concerning eucharistic renewal into our entire school community,” said Rosanne Bowen, religious education coordinator at Holy Redeemer School.

The renewal began at 8 a.m. with a procession throughout the school. It was led by Mary Reiling, principal, followed by a representative from each class ringing bells, by altar servers carrying candles and incense, and finally by Father Joseph Corbett, pastor of St. Brigid Church, Alpharetta, carrying the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance. The procession went to every classroom where Father Corbett gave a blessing with the monstrance to kneeling students. After each classroom received a blessing, the school was blessed and the procession continued to the chapel at St. Brigid Church. There each grade was able to pray in the presence of Jesus in half-hour increments.

The religious education coordinator gave a detailed explanation of the Eucharist to each grade. All parents were invited to participate at the end of the school day for the final half-hour and they dedicated the students to Jesus Christ.

“It was so awesome,” said Lauren Hogan, a fourth-grader. “The experience brought tears to my eyes. I could really feel Jesus present. He was there! He was really there! I just loved it.”

“In light of what these children are going through with the state of our country right now, the timing was perfect,” said Bowen. “These children practiced the power of prayer today and you could see their faith in all of their faces. We all need to remember that ‘We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.’”

Cass Lievsay is a school parent at Holy Redeemer School.