Following Mass, [Archdiocese of Detroit superintendent Kevin] Kijewski acknowledged all the students, teachers and parents who braved the cold temperatures.

He also presented the recipients of scholarships awarded by Alliance Catholic Credit Union, who composed a six-word essay on a photo they selected.

“We did this essay where we had to write six words about a picture we sent in,” said Shannon Romkema, a junior at Our Lady of the Lakes High School in Waterford. “The picture I used was of my niece when she was 4 years old, right after she had open-heart surgery. The words I chose were ‘God’s soldier born amongst great adversities.’ My niece had a very small chance of surviving after being born with a hole in her heart, and I wanted to share the word, that through God’s miracles, you can do a lot of things.”

The Mass and all of Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity for all the students to reflect on what it means to be a student at a Catholic school and the advantages and blessings that come with attending a school that puts Christ at the center of the curriculum.

“I think that it is nice to be somewhere where you are able to improve your faith, talk about your faith and learn about the faith; at public schools, you don’t have that option,” said Maxwell Mader, an eighth-grader at Guardian Angels School in Clawson. “Though times can be tough in school, you always have faith in God that things will get better. I think it is a very positive environment at Catholic schools, where you learn you need to be really strong in your faith to make it through life.”

Source: Detroit Catholic – Archbishop Vigneron at Catholic Schools Week Mass: ‘Your education is about giving glory to God’  

Click here for full list of scholarship winners from Alliance Catholic Credit Union.