Outer space and Jesus’ teachings? Bishop Mike connects them at a school visit

The students at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Clarence’s Harris Hill neighborhood, were nearing the end of their first full week of the new academic year. On Thursday, Sept. 12, they received a special visitor, Bishop Michael W. Fisher, who was on the latest of several traditional September visits to local Catholic Schools.

“When we heard the bishop was coming, we were so excited. What a great way to kick off the 2024-25 school year by welcoming him,” said Principal Nicole Richard. “The students have cards prepared and signs, and they’re looking forward to welcoming him into their classrooms.”

First, though, Bishop Fisher was the lead celebrant of a school Mass held in the adjacent church. The Gospel, read by pastor Father Thomas Mahoney, touched on Jesus Christ’s instruction to his followers to love one’s enemies. The bishop would discuss it further with the children during his homily. But he opened by talking about something happening high above the earth at that moment, the first spacewalk involving private citizens.

He noted that on Earth, we have God’s creation to keep us alive. Up in space, the lives of the spacewalkers are protected by their special suits. 

“To me, this reminds me a little bit of what we’re hearing in our readings today,” Bishop Fisher said. “Jesus is the one who you might say is our lifeline, huh? He strengthens us, that sort of air that He supplies us with is His love. We’re called to grow in that love, aren’t we? We’re called to grow in that love. The more that we breathe in the life of Jesus, in our life, the more we become healthy and strong and virtuous.”

Loving one’s enemies, as difficult as it may be, is one of those ways to be virtuous, he further explained to the children. 

Following Mass, Bishop Fisher visited several classrooms beginning with the pre-K students. Liz Reaves, one of the pre-K teachers, was dressed in a spacesuit costume and explained to the bishop that they were discussing space and had made “planets” at every desk. Next door, Leigh Szablewski was dressed to look like an ant, the animal her students were learning about that day.

“Later on today, we are going to do a science experiment where we’re going to put a plate outside with cookies and applesauce and apples,” she told the bishop.

“And donuts,” one of her students added.

“And we’re going to see if, maybe, after our rest time, if we can find some ants outside,” Szablewski continued. Her students were quite confident they would find them.

Other classes presented the bishop with student-made cards and a poster welcoming him to the school. Bishop Fisher, while accepting them graciously, explained what he does with all the cards he has collected. 

“I take them to my chapel. I have a little chapel in my room upstairs at the cathedral,” he explained. “I have morning prayer by myself and a little evening prayer. What I usually do is I’ll take one and I’ll open it up, and I’ll read it, and I’ll see who it is and what are they saying to me, and then I offer my prayers for the person that gave me this.”

Bishop Fisher’s appearance was the school’s second special visit of the week. The day before, students marked the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by welcoming individuals who were on the scene in New York City following the attacks on the World Trade Center.

“Our eighth graders hosted it,” Richard said. “They did a flag raising ceremony with the whole school, and then after that, they hosted veterans for a beautiful breakfast. It was so special. The kids got to hear from veterans who were at Ground Zero and about their experience there. And it really made a tribute to 9/11 so special for all of us, the kids, the adults, and the parents that helped. It was a great way to honor the veterans, and honor 9/11.”