LEWISTON – Like a TV talk-show host, Bishop Richard Malone stepped down from his pulpit Monday and into his congregation, pulling the microphone from his robes and holding it out as he asked his question.
“What are you thankful for?” Malone asked the 700 children who filled the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. A flurry of hands appeared. Malone beamed.
The children, from kindergartners to high school seniors, spoke of teachers, parents and school nurses.
“We are thanking God for the blessing of Catholic school,” the bishop said.
Part of the church’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week, the morning Mass gathered for the first time children from all four of Lewiston-Auburn’s Catholic schools: Holy Cross, St. Joseph’s, St. Peter and Sacred Heart and St. Dominic Regional High.
It’s the kind of gathering that may become routine. The Mass came just minutes before Malone announced the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maine’s plan to consolidate the three elementary schools.
“It’s great to see this basilica full of young life and young faith,” Malone told the children, several of whom performed Bible readings. Adam Meservier, a boy from St. Peter and Sacred Heart School performed as cantor.
While Meservier sang “Our God is a God of Love” at the Mass’s beginning, uniformed boys and girls sang along, clapping in time.
As Malone began his homily, the kids wiggled in their seats. Then, he stepped from the pulpit.
He began recalling the story of Jesus, the 10 lepers and the one who returned with a thank you.
“It’s about the importance of saying thank you’ to God and to one another,” Malone said. He asked the children to offer their thanks.
“This is truly very spontaneous,” he said, as the children described their schools and families.
Students from the high school, which brought only its senior class, talked of preparation for college.
Malone offered his own alternative for a course of study. He asked them to consider a life in the church, as a priest or a deacon.
“I’m convinced there are people in a group this big that the Lord is waiting for,” Malone said. “Ask the Lord if he may be calling you in this way.”
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