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TEEN PERSPECTIVE

Parish memories yield to tomorrow

As the school year comes to an end, one word is on everyone's lips, namely the word "last." My school and church, St. Teresa of Avila in Albany, are merging with another school and church in new locations. My priest likes to joke every time we celebrate the last of something, "Dare I say 'the last.'"

However, before the closure of my 81-year-old school in June, I want to share some wonderful memories. I began at St. Teresa of Avila in 1997 when I entered the nursery class. Since I live only three blocks from school, I enjoy walking to and from there every day. I will miss my teachers, the principal and my classmates - many of us have been together since Kindergarten. 

My friend Clare and I are considered "lifers" since we have been students at St. Teresa of Avila since nursery. Also, our school science club won the Lexus Eco Challenge and has helped our school recycle over 17 tons of paper. I'll miss practicing for First Friday masses. Above all, I'll miss all the simple yet meaningful moments I've shared with my classmates. My class - the class of 2009 - will be, dare I say it, the last graduating class of St. Teresa of Avila School. 

The church lies right across the street. It was founded in 1920. Over the past 11 years, my connection with my faith has grown. Throughout my time at the church, we've gone through four priests, including our most recent one, Rev. Vincent Ciotoli. I became an altar server and was the youngest altar server at all three Holy Triduum Masses this year. I still remember serving my first Mass over five years ago. I was a fourth-grader serving with a middle-school student who was much taller than me. Now, I'm the middle-school student who is inches taller than my younger partner. 

When I lectored at the Christmas Eve Mass this year, I looked out into the crowded pews. I couldn't believe how many people were there. My younger brother later said, "If church was like this every weekend, we wouldn't be closing." For me, our parish is the heart of the community. Across the street are the local fire station and the soon-to-be New Scotland library branch. Down the street is the local deli, Ragonese, with the nicest people and the best eggplant. The owners even joke about delivering food to the new school, All Saints Catholic Academy. 

I am sad about the closing of my church and school, but I am excited about the future. I will go to a new school and a new church in the fall.

As former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, once said, "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." So, is it really the last? Or is it just the beginning of something new, something even greater? 

(Cailin McKenna finished eighth-grade at St. Teresa of Avila School in Albany.)

(06/25/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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