5/20/22 - Friday Forget-Me-Nots by Jim Silcott

Photo Caption: Grand-Pal-A-Thon!

Dear Our Lady of Peace Family,

We had no bad luck last Friday the 13th of May for our GrandPal-A-Thon. It was by far the biggest school event that we have had in over two years. I think that Jesus, and Mary, Queen of Peace, and even St. Medardus, patron saint of weather, were all pulling for us that day and the weather showed it. It was a beautiful day on a beautiful day.

The day started with a church full of people of every age from our youngest students in kindergarten to parents, grandparents, aunts, neighbors, friends and even a handful of great grandparents. We were entertained by those Kindergarten students as well as the second and third grade and our 7th and 8th graders who sang two songs from their spring musical.

After Mass got to do what we have not been able to do really at all since March of 2020: open the building for all of our special guests. If you remember last year, visitors were as welcome as ants at a picnic. What a treat it was to have our building full.

At 10 am over 450 of us lined up along Dominion Ave. to begin our walk. Father Dooley and out 8th grade led the parade. A big thanks to the Columbus Police Department who had two cruisers helping us along the route. We were also greeted by many neighbors along the way. Many parent volunteers also helped us travel safely. It wasn’t a race; it was a pleasant stroll along tree lined streets in our neighborhood.

For a few hours after the walk all of us had an opportunity to experience something sorely missing in our hectic days: Time. We purposely didn’t plan any events after the walk. Students and their guests spread out all over the campus, from the tree outside Father Dooley’s office to the north end of the field, to the playground structure to the front lawn of school, we all just got to relax, eat, talk, play, and enjoy each other’s company.

For me, personally, it was so nice, both during the walk and afterwards, to meet so many people who had come to support our students and the day. In an age of zoom calls, streaming Netflix and cell phones it was nice to be together face to face!

Of course, in addition to community building, many many people in our parish and the greater community came together to raise money for our long-awaited gymnasium ramp. As I have mentioned, this ramp will have both practical as well as symbolic value to a parish and school that refuses to just go with the flow of proposals and to make our voices heard about the value of our parish/school community. It is our expectation that the ramp will be completed at the same time as the renovation of the Msgr. Grimes Gymnasium by the time we welcome back our students in August.

Donations continue to come in for this project. We need about $8,000 more to fully fund the ramp and currently at 87% of our goal. If you haven’t yet donated or know of someone in a position to help, we appreciate every dollar.

Many thanks to: Mrs. Katy Paolini, who told me that we could raise money with a walk, Valerie Rion, Lisa Goshe, Kathy McBride. Shea Marmion, Anne Graver and Colleen Melvin who helped to plan the day, the many parents who volunteered to “work the corners” during the walk, Stephanie McNally, who tirelessly took pictures with a wonderful flowery backdrop, Rob Rosati from Instant Signs who donated the signs we used on the walk, our entire faculty and staff who helped in many ways that day, all of our grandparents and pals who joined us that day, and to our many contributors who have made the building of our ramp a reality.

Very special thanks to Oliver Bonnette and his family and all who donated specifically in his name, many of whom have no other connection to Our Lady of Peace than Ollie. Oliver, pictured above, will be a daily recipient of your generosity and will make it possible for future students, parents, teachers, staff, and parish members with mobility issues to come into our building with ease (By the way I have a vision for a ramp to go downstairs as well if anyone is interested!).



What a blessing it is for me to work here. God Bless us everyone!

Jim Silcott