WHITING – Those visiting the Lenten fish fry at St. John the Baptist on March 6 not only received a meal but also had the opportunity to learn more about the lives of saints thanks to students who showcased some of the holy men and women of the Catholic faith.
For the second year in a row, the eighth grade class at the Whiting school created a Living Wax Museum of Saints inside the St. John Mural Room for several hours during the evening.
Principal Michelle Ondas shared that this year’s eighth grade class is “bright, curious, and enthusiastic.” She said they are eager to learn, ask thoughtful questions, and show a genuine interest in growing in their faith.
“While each student brings a unique personality and set of strengths,” Ondas said, “as a group, they are supportive of one another and are developing a strong sense of responsibility as they prepare for high school and the next steps in their faith journey.”
At the eighth grade level, students focus on deepening their understanding of the sacraments, particularly the Holy Spirit’s role in their lives. Activities they are involved with include scripture study, reflections on their personal faith journeys, service projects and discussions about living out Catholic values in their daily lives. The school also encourages prayer, participation in Mass and meaningful conversations with mentors or sponsors to help them connect their faith to their actions.
This year, approximately 30 students – the entire eighth grade class – participated in the Living Wax Museum for Saints. For those being confirmed, many chose to emulate their confirmation saint.
The students did a variety of activities to prepare for the day. Each student completed a report on the saint they chose, created a posterboard and delivered a one-minute speech sharing important aspects of the saint's life. Finally, they created a costume that best represented that saint.
Ondas said studying the saints gives students examples of faith, courage and service. She added that the saints’ stories inspire moral decision-making, perseverance through challenges, and a deeper understanding of God’s presence.
“We hope the students see that holiness is attainable in everyday life and that each person can make a difference in their community,” Ondas said. “Ultimately, we want students to reflect on how they, too, can live out their faith with purpose and compassion.”
Eighth grader Angela Zaragoza chose to study St. Therese of Lisieux because she liked the saint’s message of focusing on small tasks with great passion. St. Therese was known for her "little way," striving for holiness through doing small “ordinary” things every day with great love, rather than grand gestures. Zaragoza felt she personally related to that way of thinking.
“I put a lot of effort into small things,” she said, “so that's why I chose her. Also, her theme was gorgeous.”
St. Therese is often associated with images of roses, flowers that Zaragoza also enjoys. She stated her family has a garden of roses outside their home. Zaragoza has an additional connection to the rose as her middle name is Rosalyn.
Zaragoza was also inspired by St. Therese’s last words: “I'm not dying, I'm living.” Those words, she believes, were not solely related to death, but were an example of her love for God.
What classmate Andrian Estrada learned about St. Sebastian really inspired him. The saint persevered through the torture he encountered because of his beliefs. Estrada explained that the saint was persecuted and attacked by the Roman army, but always maintained a strong faith.
“That just kind of really gave me inspiration to pick St. Sebastian, and reminded me to be brave in faith, in school and everything,” he said.
As Estrada researched the personal life of St. Sebastian, it strengthened his belief that “you should never stop believing in God, because God will be there to help you and protect you.” He added that he felt comfortable sharing what he learned during the activity with others who stopped by the living wax museum.
Religion Teacher Albert Alfano noted the activity brought together learning about the saints, preparing for confirmation and practicing speaking in front of others. He felt it was a good opportunity to keep the students engaged and motivated during their last year of middle school.
“I think the costumes created some excitement and just really brought it all together,” he said. “It made it come to life more than if they had just done a written paper.”
Alfano said the activity fit in well with class discussions on virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
“They see that the saints lived and did all these things for God, and stuck by their faith,” he said. “This hopefully made them realize they can do it as well.”
