Our two Spiritus Sanctus Academies in the Ann Arbor area are especially dear to us. These two elementary schools have been a part of our community since our foundation, and many Sisters have served as principals and teachers in these special places. This year has seen an abundance of blessings at both schools. In the fall, both faculties met at the Motherhouse for a joint faculty and staff retreat, with talks from Mother Amata Veritas on the unique participation of the Spiritus Sanctus Academies in the Dominican charism of the community. In the spring, the Sisters invited women from the families, faculty and staff of the Spiritus Sanctus Academies to join them in a women’s retreat focused on encountering the stories of the women in the Bible. The retreat was a blessing for all!
It has been a wonderful year at Spiritus Sanctus Academy – Plymouth as the Sisters have continued to live at the Motherhouse and work daily at the school. An exciting event for the year involves a beautiful story about their new statue of Saint Philomena, the patron saint of youth. The beautiful statue was on loan for Catholic Schools Week, at a time, too, when many in the school community were in need of intercession and healing. In many ways, the prayers through St. Philomena’s intercession were answered in abundance, and so when the time came to say goodbye to the beloved statue, the Sisters, teachers, students and families were sad to let her go! However, during Lent, unbeknownst to the Sisters, a campaign was started to raise the funds to bring her statue permanently home to the school chapel. Pledges that surpassed the cost came in within 24 hours! Many of our students raided their piggy banks to help the cause! What an incredible gift for our school community! St. Philomena, pray for us!
A moment of great excitement came to Spiritus Sanctus Academy – Ann Arbor this year, when in May, four alumni came for the daily school Mass. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. John Vinton, a graduate of Spiritus Sanctus Academy, and he was assisted by three seminarians (Christian Salata, Dominic Schoenle, and Seppe Kelly) – also graduates of Spiritus Sanctus Academy! A fourth seminarian and alumnus of the Sisters also served the Mass – Mason Abbott was taught by the Sisters at Resurrection Catholic School and Lansing Catholic High School in Lansing! The Sisters were overcome with emotion and joy to celebrate such a special Mass with such treasured alumni, and so grateful to be part of their discernment journeys. What a privilege to have so many vocations among our former students!
