Bishop celebrates Mass and Catholic education in Batavia

Catholic Schools Week, that annual celebration of Catholic education, is bringing healthy competition and some fun to Batavia 

St. Joseph Regional School has a week filled with fun events including lunch and Bingo with parents. Tuesday saw a Pajama and Movie Day. On Wednesday the school will be divided into houses from kindergarten through sixth grade. The houses compete in Survivor-type competitions including building houses, making necklaces out of noodles, and collecting macaroni and cheese for the local food pantry. At tribal council, instead of voting a student out, each house will honor a student. 

“They’re all going to get to vote for the student they thought showed the most leadership, was kind, helped out throughout the day,” explained Principal Karen Green. “They’ll lead their tribe in and be celebrated as that person who showed the most sportsmanship and helped out. We figured instead of booting someone out, we’d make it more inclusive.”

Thursday is a physical fitness day at the YMCA. Sixth graders will hold a regatta with cardboard boats they will try to float across a pool.

Friday will close the week with Mass and a jump rope competition to raise money for the American Heart Association. The day ends with an air band competition.

Bishop Michael W. Fisher kicked things off by celebrating Mass on Monday, Jan. 29.

A big fan of the dramatic television series, “The Chosen,” which depicts the life of Jesus, the bishop explains what it means to be chosen, recalling how proud he felt to be picked for the Al Packer Ford Athletics baseball team back in Baltimore. He then asked the students present for what they had been chosen. Many replied with sports positions, others with roles in the church such as lectors.

“When you’re chosen to do something, that means you’re bringing some kind of skill,” the bishop explained. “As St. Paul talks about all of us having some part to play as the body of Christ. Each one of us has gifts that are unique. God gave each one of us special gifts to do the things we may be chosen to do. … Each one of us has been called as children of God to be his disciples.”

While touring the classrooms, Bishop Fisher along with Dr. Tim Uhl, secretary for Catholic Education, visited each grade. One surprise for the bishop, the school has three teachers named Fisher. They call that wing of the school “the Fish Tank.”

“This is Mrs. Fisher,” Green introduced. “And your teacher next door is?” “Mrs. Fisher,” the students replied. “And your teacher across the hall is?” “Mr. Fisher.”

“I fit right in,” said the bishop.

They also saw one of the air bands practicing their dance routine to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.”

The students had the opportunity to ask Bishop Fisher questions. One asked why he became a bishop. Answer: He got a call from the pope.

Why did he want to be a priest?

“God called me and I felt I wanted to serve God’s people in some way,” the bishop replied. “I wanted to be an astronaut first.”

One student asked about his “big hat.” Neat fact, the two sides of the miter represent the two testaments of the Bible.

Peyton Sprauge and Benjamin DiLaura, second graders, were appointed Student Principals of the Day after a raffle at the annual golf tournament. In this important role they set up for Bingo, read the morning announcements, and said a prayer. They also take care of the teachers.

“We’re going to send my old teacher home,” said Peyton. “Because I scheduled a massage for her.”

Bishop Fisher followed the visit with a stop at Notre Dame High School just down the road.