By Cheri Perkins Mantz, Catholic Herald Staff

LE ROY — When Mary Schaefer was teaching second grade at St. Mary, Mayville’s, satellite campus at St. Andrew, Le Roy, she attended a class that emphasized the importance of connecting students with members of the community. When she saw the senior citizens heading to daily Mass, she came up with an idea to bring the students and seniors into regular contact.

The Angel Helpers are senior citizens living in the area. Some are grandparents or other relatives of the students in kindergarten through second grade. Some are not relatives; they are parishioners or their children attended the school. Some even attended the school themselves.

Schaefer, now retired, began the program in 1998. The parishioners of St. Andrew had been praying for years that their school would one day reopen.

“We call them angels because they were praying that the school would open up,” said Schaefer. “When we became a satellite campus, that was the answer to their prayers.”

Once a month, the “angels” come to do a craft project or see the children do a program or concert. According to principal Pat Dougherty, the Angel Helpers and the students have made rosaries, colored Easter eggs and more. There are about 24 “angels” involved in the Angel Helper program.

“It’s beneficial to the students in that it lets our little people know about older people,” said Dougherty. “Older people have a sense of patience about them and the kids seem to feel that patience and strength. Sometimes when you’re younger and your parents are in a rush, you might not see that patience. Sometimes we need to have grandparents step into those roles. The grandparents love it because they can sit and talk with the kids.”

Schaefer sees benefits to the Angel Helpers program as well.

“We’ve had kids who don’t have grandparents and the kids just love this,” said Schaefer. “Some people don’t get to see their grandchildren and here they get a connection with the little guys.”

Schaefer mentioned that students often make long-term connections with the seniors.

“One of our students kept in contact with her ‘angel’ all through high school,” said Schaefer.

On Nov. 21, the students shared their appreciation for their angels at the annual Thanksgiving feast. The students sang to the angels and they shared a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Norbert Weinberger, a parishioner for 40 years, has been an Angel Helper since the beginning of the program.

“The kids look up to me, sort of like a grandparent,” he said. “The kids grow up and you see them at Mass or at the store and they say ‘hi.’”

Weinberger, whose wife also volunteers as an Angel Helper, said that he forms long-term connections with the students and often sends them cards for their first Communion.

Marie and Leonard Schraufnagel are lifelong parishioners at St. Andrew. While they have 21 of their own grandchildren, they enjoy spending time with the students.

“I like the energy, enthusiasm and all their accomplishments that they can show us,” said Leonard. “It’s fun.”

Alex Nodolski, 5, is a kindergartner at the school and said he enjoys when the angels come.

“I like them,” he said. “We eat with them. We made a rosary.”

Patrick Harvancik, 7, is in first grade and sat with the Schraufnagels at the Thanksgiving dinner.

“It’s fun having them over,” said Patrick. “They play games with us and we talk. It makes me feel like I’m at home.”

“And that you’re loved,” prompted Marie.

Patrick agreed, “Yeah!”

Be An Informed Catholic!


For the rest of this week's news, visit the Catholic Herald web site.

Click here to subscribe to the Catholic Herald.