Last Thursday, the Ursuline Academy community celebrated the
Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Peer Minister Commissioning
Ceremony.
During the liturgy, twenty-one Seniors were commissioned as Peer
Ministers for the 2011-2012 school year. Each peer minister received a pin and lit a candle, and then Fr. Clancy blessed the students in their new ministry.
Peer Ministers are spiritual leaders in the Ursuline community. They meet once a week to plan liturgies,
prayer services and retreats for the school community with the guidance of
Ursuline campus minister Mrs. Costa and religion teacher Ms. Tracy.
One of the much-loved traditions of Peer Ministry at
Ursuline is the weekly ritual of choosing one Peer Minister to walk in the
footsteps of Jesus for a week.
“Every week, we pick one person’s name out of a hat, and
they reflect on how Jesus would act throughout the week,” said Peer Minister
Megan W. “At the end of their week they share their experiences with us and we also write letters and
affirmations to them.”
In choosing the Peer Ministers, “We are looking for leadership qualities, the
girl who works to her ability, is responsible and who gives her time in
service,” said Mrs. Costa.
The group of twenty-one Peer Ministers chosen this year is the
largest group ever and they are eager to share their faith with their fellow
students.
“I have been at Ursuline since the seventh grade and
I’ve always looked up to the Peer Ministers,” said Michaela M. “I wanted to be a good example for other
students, as they were for me.”
“My faith is a huge part of my life, so to help others at
Ursuline to enhance their faith and grow in their love of God is important to
me,” added Kathleen G., another Peer Minister.
Mrs. Costa and Ms. Tracy are both looking forward to working
with this group for the remainder of the school year.
“It’s been a joy so far,” Mrs. Costa said. “They each have a heart of gold and are willing to
do anything for anyone, so it has been wonderful to share with them and have
reflections with them.”
