In the just-released edition of Today’s Marists, which is a magazine published three times each year by The Marist Fathers and Brothers of the United States Province in Washington, D.C., two Marist priests each write about what their high school students did on Mar. 14 to remember the victims of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., as well as to raise awareness of gun violence in America.
Fr. Bill Rowland, s.m., who is president of Marist School in Atlanta, writes about what his students did on Mar. 14 followed by Fr. Joe Hindelang, s.m., principal of Notre Dame Preparatory School in Pontiac, who writes about what students did at his school.
School walkout in Atlanta
by Fr. Bill Rowland, s.m., Marist School president
On Mar. 14, 2018, Marist School in Atlanta joined the National School Walkout to protest gun violence in America’s schools and to remember the 17 victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., one month earlier. Fourteen students and three faculty members, stood at different stations in Marist School’s Alumni Plaza holding posters with photographs of the victims. For 17 minutes, hundreds of students and faculty walked in silence by each photograph.
Some of the juniors and seniors, motivated by the principles of the Society of Mary and Catholic social teachings, approached the administration with ideas about how Marist could participate in the National School Walkout. Mr. Kevin Mullally, the principal, and Fr. Bill Rowland, s.m., president, listened and set some boundaries. The students then organized the walkout.
Mr. Mullally emailed the Marist School community beforehand to explain what would be happening on Mar. 14 and why: “Because of our Catholic faith and of our Marist charism, our response will be grounded in prayer, reflection, and the perspective of the Church. As a Catholic school, we are committed to peace and non-violence and are glad to join in solidarity with other Catholic, independent, and public schools around the country as we hope to bring peace to all of our schools.”
Fr. Rowland, s.m., when speaking to the entire school community at Schola Brevis on Mar. 12, said, “Whatever we will do on Mar. 14 will be rooted in Christ, expressive of our faith and the values that flow from it and influenced by the tradition of the Society of Mary. We will try to do that the best we can. Lest the students at Marjory Douglas High School fear they will stand alone on Mar. 14, Marist School will stand with them. We will add our voices to theirs and with them, cry out: “Never again!”
Eliza Griffin, a junior and lead organizer of the Walkout, spoke to the school at 10 a.m. She said, “No more kids should have to feel unsafe at school, where they come to learn and grow with their friends and teachers. No more kids should have to lose their lives at the hands of a deranged shooter. Jesus’ one rule was to love your neighbor, and we should do everything in our power to adhere to that. By walking out, you are acknowledging the life and dignity of the 17 lives lost, and also every life that’s ever been taken by a gun — every life taken at Columbine, Marshall County, Reynolds, Chardon, Sandy Hook, and so many more — and you’re doing the work of Mary. As the USCCB says: ‘More than ever, the Church and all people of good will must work together to confront the pervasive culture of violence.’ So I say, never again.”
Fr. Martin McAnaney, s.m., provincial superior of the Marist Province of Europe took notice of what was happening in the United States and wrote to Fr. Rowland, s.m.: “We have circulated a solidarity petition to the education centers that are part of our European Marist Education Network.”
In addition to circulating a solidarity petition, the “european-marist-eduation blog” posted the following: “The Maristengymnasium in Fürstenzell, Germany, gathered hundreds of students in the playground in order to demonstrate solidarity with its Marist partner school in Atlanta and with the actions of American students to promote stricter gun controls in the United States.”
“One of the wonderful delights of belonging to an international religious congregation,” replied Fr. Rowland, s.m., “is that it allows our students to connect with each other and to celebrate the Marist bond that unites us. This expression of solidarity is a beautiful example of what makes a Marist education so special.
“Please pass on to your students how all of us at Marist have been deeply touched by their thoughtfulness and compassion. We stand united with them to continue to work to make this world more just and peaceful. We will do our part in the United States knowing we are not alone — that our Marist schools in Europe are committed to doing the same.”
School walkout in Pontiac
by Fr. Joe Hindelang, s.m., Notre Dame Preparatory School principal
When the tragic school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, took place Feb. 14, 2018, students across the United States planned events to honor the 17 victims and to call for an end to gun violence in schools everywhere. A national school “Walk Out” took place on Mar. 14, 2018, one month after the shooting.
A number of students at Notre Dame Prep in Pontiac, Mich., approached administrators to talk about participating in this event, but they also wanted to respect our school day. They liked the idea that as a Catholic school community we could bring prayer into such an event. While Notre Dame Prep did not officially promote this student event, we did set some guidelines for the students who chose to participate. Part of the mission of our school is to work with God to help our students become good citizens. The student leaders saw this event as one way for students to grow in their sense of citizenship by thoughtfully choosing whether to participate or not.
Although the school includes junior kindergarten through twelfth grade, this civil action was intended for high school students. Rather than walk out of the building, which could have posed a safety issue, not to mention the cold that day, Notre Dame made one of the gyms available for the students to assemble. At 10 a.m., those who wanted to participate walked out of class quietly to the gym. Students sat on the floor around 17 candles representing the students and staff members killed in Florida.
Our students prayed together. There were several short speeches calling for an end to gun violence in our schools and in our country. A poem was read. And then the names of the 17 victims were read aloud, followed by a long period of silence. At the end of 17 minutes the students quietly returned to class.
About half of our students participated, while the other half chose to remain in class. Teachers supervised each area. This event came halfway through our spirit week, called “Irish Week,” which is usually accompanied by fun events and high spirits. But, for the walkout, students decided to participate very seriously. They appreciated the freedom to choose and to express their concerns.
Amelia Cumming, a sophomore at NDP and an organizer of the event, said, “We walked out to protest gun violence in schools. Without a change, this horror will continue in our classrooms.”
Matt Wood, a junior and another organizer, added, “We are the generation of today as well as of tomorrow. As we remember the 17 lives lost in Parkland, Florida, one month ago today, let us not forget that violence is never the answer.”
Our Marist theme for this school year is "ardent love of neighbor." In keeping with that theme, another reaction to school violence is called: #WalkUpNotOut. It is an invitation to students (and adults) to commemorate lost lives by doing something positive: Walk up to another student who may feel lonely and extend an invitation to join you. Walk up to someone in need of a positive word or support. Walk up to a teacher or another adult to thank them for (fill in the blank). This movement has also appealed to our students, and many are already putting it into practice.
Please join us in prayer and positive action for the safety and wellbeing of all our own students as well as all students everywhere in our country.
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.