This week we
are celebrating Catholic Schools Week. While it is the 40th year we
have celebrated Catholic schools, they have been around much longer than that.
The picture below is of St Joseph School in Edina, MO. I didn’t attend St.
Joseph however; my dad and his siblings tested the nerves and patience of many
of the Sisters that ran the school. The school sat empty for several years and
time and neglect took its toll on the building. Eventually, the parish had it
torn down. It was a sad day to return to Edina and see an empty lot, but with
everything that happens in life, there is a lesson to learned …it takes true
dedication to support a Catholic education for our children. That dedication
comes from parents, grandparents, loved ones and the members of our parish as well.
My grandparents
were truly dedicated to St Joseph Church and supported the school in many ways.
T.G.F.M.K is an acronym for Thank God for Mrs. Killday. Mrs. Killday (AKA my
Grandma) stayed home raising seven children. Their house was less than a block
from the school and when a student at school got sick, or was injured they were
sent to grandma’s house for the necessary TLC. One of my dad’s classmates went on to become an
educator for the Blue Springs school district and part of her job was to
conduct seminars for area educators and support staff. In one of her seminars
she created this acronym T.G.F.M.K and talked of my Grandma's care for her when she was not feeling well, along with the support and
dedication to the children of St. Joseph School, encouraging the participants to be like Mrs.
Killday.
I didn’t get
near enough time with my Grandma before Alzheimer's but she did teach me a
valuable lesson…pray all day, eventually you’ll find what you are looking for
and tomorrow is always new day!
I do believe
that T.G.F.M.K can have more than one meaning. It also can also mean Thank God
for Mr. Killday (AKA dad). While I didn’t have an opportunity to have a
Catholic education until I moved to Jefferson City and was able to attend
Helias. He has been extremely supportive of my choice to teach in the Catholic
school setting. Friday we will celebrate T.G.F.M.K Day with PIZZA for lunch
thanks to Mr. Killday.
Happy Catholic Schools Week!!
