St. Vincent visits Saint Vincent de Paul School

Photo courtesy of Carol Barman

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Vice Principal Gary Green (left) dresses up as Saint Vincent de Paul to reflect on the saint’s life and share stories with students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

SALT LAKE CITY — St. Vincent de Paul came to life at Saint Vincent de Paul School in September, teaching the students about his journey in becoming a priest and saint.

Vice Principal Gary Green dressed up as Saint Vincent and taught the students that all people have a calling from God. Each day, Green had a different lesson to teach about St. Vincent. He visited every classroom from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, and told stories in first person reflecting on the works of Saint Vincent.

On the first day, Green came in speaking French, grabbing the students’ attention. Then with a broken English dialect he spoke about where in France St. Vincent was born, his life growing up on a poor farm, and his journey from desiring the priesthood for money and social status to devoting his life to the poor. Green read a passage St. Vincent wrote about God calling all people to love others by helping them. At the end of each visit, the students sang “We Are Called” with St. Vincent to remind everyone about this special call.

The students participated in a Mass at the end of the week with the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, celebrating the feast day of St. Vincent. Green told the students earlier in the week about how they could help the poor by bringing in donations for the St. Vincent de Paul Center. Students gave their donations as an offering during Mass. The Student Council served lunch at the Center on Oct. 12, and delivered a check with the students’ donations from the all-school Mass.