Cabrini students write essays, win scholarships

Cabrini freshman Kay Shirer and eighth grader Amanda Sisung received scholarships from the Daughters of Isabella at St. Francis based on essays they wrote on “What my faith means to me and my family.” They will receive their scholarships at the Daughters of Isabella Tea Sept. 29. Their essays, reprinted in the Sept. 28, 2013, issue of the Clarion Herald, are below.

By Amanda Sisung
    Ever since I was two weeks old, on Sundays I was attending church with my family. I did not completely understand why we would go to this big building and stand, listen, sit, kneel, sing, walk up to the front with my arms crossed over my heart and walk back.
    That was just what happened on Sunday mornings, and my family had taught me that we were to be quiet and pray to our Father. By age 3, that and some of the songs we sang every week were all I could comprehend.
    Then, I turned 4 and started pre-kindergarten at St. Francis Xavier School and added a second Mass each week.
    As I got older, I started to  understand that we would go and pray to God, the one who created us and loved us. The older I became, the more I learned about Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, Mary, Joseph and the saints. My family taught me everything I know about my faith. Not just my biological family, but my church and school families also.
    Since first grade at school, we would pray in the morning and before lunch. We would also highlight things in our religion book. I would study religion with my family and in school, and, later, take a test. Weekly, Deacon Ed (Coudrain) would visit class and talk with us about God, tell stories or quiz us if we had a test. I would not have the same view of faith if it weren’t for my school, biological and parish families.
    I am involved in my faith by singing as cantor at school Masses and St. Francis Xavier Church choir on Sundays.
    Recently, I have sung at first Communion and confirmation, and I altar serve at weddings. Another way I am involved in my faith is in the CYO. I have been the junior CYO president at St. Francis for two years. I am also committed to our parish’s St. Joseph Altar.

By Kay Shirer
    My Catholic faith is a very important part of my life. In my family, not everyone is Catholic. My parents are divorced, and my mother and stepfather are not Catholic. My father was a Catholic, but no longer practices.
    I was not Catholic for a long time. When my family moved from Colorado to Louisiana, my grandmother, a practicing Catholic, felt I should have a
Catholic education. I am so thankful for her suggestion. I was soon enrolled at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School.
    I was baptized when I was 8 years old, and I can remember my father holding me over the baptismal font while Deacon Ed poured holy water over my head. In that same year, I made my first Communion. It was a lot to handle all at once, but my family, friends, school and a very special lady in my life, Mrs. Claudia Todaro, helped me make the transition.
    I felt so loved at St. Francis. I could not believe how much God could make a difference in my life. I loved being surrounded by people who had the same beliefs as I.
    Being Catholic is a part of me that I will never replace. When it was time to choose a high school, I wanted to continue my Catholic education. I looked into different high schools, but decided that Cabrini High School was the best place to get a good education and grow in my faith. I feel my faith has grown stronger  every day at Cabrini.
    My Catholic faith has affected most of my major and minor decisions in life. I could never make some of them without God’s help and prayer. The Catholic prayers are beautiful and have helped when I have problems. The Hail Mary is my favorite.
    I have also learned that part of being Catholic is not just about asking God for things. It also is about praising and thanking God often. So many people forget to thank God. To me, it is my favorite part of prayer.
    Since starting as a freshman at Cabrini in August, I am thinking about service hours. My goal is to break the record for the most service hours in New Orleans, because what would be a better way to live my faith than to serve others?
    Some ways I already perform service hours are altar serving, working at the St. Joseph Altar at St. Francis, Relay for Life, Homeless and Hunger Awareness, St. Vincent de Paul’s Walk for the Poor, parties for God’s Special Children, collecting for Deacon Ed’s Food Bank, helping with summer cabbage ball and Vacation Bible School.
    My faith means everything to me. Every day, I try to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I pray as Jesus taught, I read the Bible, I say a nightly rosary and I attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. I try to follow God by treating others as I would like to be treated. I know that I would not have the same view of faith if were not for my family, school and parish.
    If you were to ask me what my faith means to me and my school family – it is what we, as a Catholic school, are based on. I would say to my parish family – this is what we are about. I would say to my biological family that it’s how we live. To me, it is everything, and it is the cornerstone for all my families.
    To some in my family, being Catholic and educated in a Catholic school is no big deal. Unfortunately, my parents agree and my grandmother is not able to continue paying my tuition. I love being Catholic. It’s who I am. If it were not for my Catholic faith and education, I would not be the person I am today. I hope and pray that with the help of the Daughters of Isabella, I can continue to grow in my faith in a Catholic environment.