Archbishop Hicks Tells Harlem Students: ‘You Are a Gift’
By: Mary Shovlain
Archbishop Hicks visited St. Charles Borromeo School on Thursday morning, celebrating Mass with students, teachers, and staff during a joyful and long-awaited visit to the Catholic school community.
The visit had originally been scheduled as Archbishop Hicks’ first school visit after his installation in February, but it was postponed because of flooding at the school.
Founded more than a century ago, St. Charles Borromeo School serves students from pre-K through eighth grade and continues its mission of Catholic education in the Harlem community.
WATCH: Archbishop Hicks Meets with Catholic Educational Leaders, Emphasizing Mission and Unity
The church came alive with joyful and animated music from the school choir, whose energetic singing filled the Mass with reverence and rejoicing.
During his homily, Archbishop Hicks invited students to raise their hands if they had ever received a special gift before connecting that idea to the gifts God gives through faith and the Eucharist.
“He gives us the greatest gift in the world,” he said. “He gives us the gift of His body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist.”
The archbishop reminded students that they are loved by God and created in his image and likeness.
“So, all of us, we might have received some gifts along the way in our life,” he said. “But if there’s one thing that you need to remember today, it is that in the eyes of God, you are a gift.”
Principal Natalia Rodrigo said the archbishop’s visit left a lasting impression on the school community.
“It was the utmost gift, I think, for our students, for our families, for our school, for our teachers,” she said. “The excitement of him coming and him being here and recognizing our faith, our Catholic tradition, was the true gift to us.”
She said many students were excited throughout the morning about the archbishop’s arrival.
“Today’s a super special Mass. The big guy’s coming, the big guy’s coming,” Rodrigo recalled students saying. “I think them seeing him and seeing how down to earth he is, walking around the church and asking questions and letting them be them, I think it’s going to impact them for years to come.”
After Communion, students thanked the archbishop for visiting and presented him with school merchandise, which he promised to wear. Archbishop Hicks also thanked everyone involved in organizing the visit and praised the students for their faith, enthusiasm, and warm welcome.
Before departing, the archbishop posed for photos with the graduating eighth graders and blessed them as they prepare to begin high school next year.