Saint Olaf students participate in weekly Mass

Intermountain Catholic

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Student council members leads a decade of the rosary in honor of October being the month of the rosary.

BOUNTIFUL – Saint Olaf School students attend Mass every Friday and have a tradition of praying the rosary once a month.

The tradition began six years ago when Marge Ham wanted her children and the other students in the school to know they could ask others besides their parents to pray for them. "I learned that as a child and I thought it was important to pass that on to these children," Ham said.

Student council members lead the school in the rosary on the First Friday in October, the month of the rosary; the First Friday of Catholic Schools Week and the First Friday in May, the month of Mary. On the other Fridays of the school year, each class takes a turn leading the rosary for their grade alone.

"This gives each class an opportunity to take turns leading the rosary and it teaches the students how to pray the rosary," said St. Olaf Principal JoAnn Emery. "The students rotate the mysteries so they pray all four mysteries and learn the entire rosary. When the students pray the rosary, they pray for peace, the St. Olaf community and special intentions."

"Praying the rosary connects us more spiritually with Mary and her son, Jesus," said Jonathon Rodriguez, a student council member. "It’s a great tradition, especially to know we can pray to Mary when we feel uneasy or troubled and need her help."

"Whenever I pray the rosary and am feeling troubled, I always feel better," said student council member Aubrey Suchar. "If I am having a problem or someone in my family is having a problem, I pray for that intention when we pray the rosary."

Members of St. Olaf and parents often join the students for Friday Masses and the rosary, which gives them a sense of community. "I’m happy the students are learning to pray the rosary," said Monsignor Rudolph Daz, pastor. "It’s the prayer of Our Blessed Mother."

Each grade also rotates each week to help prepare for the weekly Masses. The students choose the songs and who will be responsible to proclaim the readings and prayer intentions.