SFA 7th graders make pilgrimage to OKC

By Aaron J. Leiker
Spiritual, patriotic, and educational are three words used to describe the recent field trip and pilgrimage made to Oklahoma City by the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School seventh grade. On Oct. 23, the students spent the morning at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine and the afternoon at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.

The Shrine provided students an opportunity to learn about the life of the Oklahoma farm boy turned priest and eventually martyr. The visit included a tour of the museum showcasing elements of his life and watching the short biography – The Ordinary Martyr. Students also visited the 2,000-seat church that resembles the parish church Blessed Stanley Rother served in Guatemala as well as the smaller chapel that features a mural of martyrs and the altar encasing the martyr’s casket. In the chapel, students were able to receive Holy Communion and take part in adoration.

As the students prepared to visit the Oklahoma City bombing memorial, many of them acknowledged they did not know much about the 1995 tragedy. The museum allowed students to experience the attack minute-by-minute and hour-by-hour. The museum includes details of the attack, emergency response, investigation, trials, and the public’s response. The visit also included a tour led by a National Park Service ranger of the outdoor National Memorial and Survivor Tree. This allowed students to contemplate the human cost of that day.

Mary Carter, principal of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, was part of the pilgrimage. “This pilgrimage was incredibly powerful for our students,” she said. “Although both experiences were drastically different, our students were able to witness the love, sacrifice, and servant leadership of both Blessed Stanley Rother and first responders. Our students were moved and inspired by the selfless acts of these modern heroes. “

Leiker is a middle school language arts teacher at St. Francis of Assisi School in Wichita.