“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24) Putting God first and doing everything for Him has always been a significant goal in my life.
One thing that has helped me achieve this was attending Catholic schools. I attended the Oblates for 3 years, St. Pat’s School for 4 years, and St. Rose School for 4 years. Currently, I attend Ursuline High School as a sophomore. While attending St. Patrick’s School, at a young age, I began to get involved with helping at Church. My involvement has evolved as now I am an altar server, help at fish fries, help at festivals, and I also decorate the Church environment. I am grateful for Father Tim O’Neill and Father Mike for supporting me throughout my Catholic education, and I am especially thankful for my parents, (Deacon) Bill and Debbie Bancroft, who made the decision to send me to Catholic schools. This one small decision has affected me in the best way.
I have met so many amazing people that have influenced my life throughout my schooling. So many influential people have helped me grow in my faith and love for God, and taught me the importance of lifelong connections. In addition, stewardship, discipline, and positivity are all strong teachings I have learned over these years. Extracurricular activities such as Students of Stewardship, Student Ambassadors, and various clubs helped me to get involved and understand why serving others is such an important aspect of our faith.
From all of my learning at Catholic Schools, and especially here at St. Pat’s, I have learned that stewardship is vital. I believe that helping others and serving them like Jesus did is the key to stewardship and living out God’s mission.
Isabella Bancroft