AUBURN — As Bishop Robert P. Deeley looked out over the standing-room only crowd gathered inside of Saint Dominic Academy’s Callahan Family Memorial Gym in Auburn on Nov. 25, he noticed a difference from the typical assemblies that take place there.

“Some of the people I see here this morning look like they’ve already graduated from school,” said the bishop to a laughing crowd. “You’ve brought your grandparents to school! You wanted to share the gift of this school with your grandparents who help you to be able to attend by the help they give you and the love they show you. That’s wonderful.”

In turn, the smiling students held hands with and hugged their special guests, creating just one of many indelible moments and scenes on Grandparents Day at Saint Dominic Academy. Grandparents and great-grandparents of students from both the Auburn and Lewiston campuses of the school spent time with their loved ones before coming together in the gym for a special Mass, celebrated by Bishop Deeley, which drew more than 1,000 people.

He also asked the students to remember to always thank their teachers who want to make sure that they stay on the right path in life.

“What a gift that is,” said the bishop. “To have people in your life who care about you enough to bring your attention to things you might be able to do better and things that you might want to change. That’s a good thing. That is something to be grateful for.”

At the end of Wednesday’s Mass, Jim King, the new superintendent of Maine Catholic Schools, introduced himself and offered his thanks to all in attendance for their commitment to ensuring that Saint Dominic Academy continues to grow and thrive.

First-graders and seventh-graders also presented the bishop with handmade cards that they had signed.