SHENANDOAH - There were no capes, masks or form-fitting costumes in the Trinity Academy cafeteria on Friday, but there were plenty of heroes present to the first-graders in attendance for a special book unveiling.
The 19 first-grade students of Sister Sarah Ellen McGuire, IHM, worked on a project to produce a hardcover book called "Our Heroes," which featured each child's personal hero in their lives.
Even though she did not write a section in the book, Sarah revealed her hero - her younger brother, the Rev. Timothy J. McGuire, assistant pastor of St. Albert the Great Roman Catholic Church, Huntington Valley, Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
McGuire came to Shenandoah to celebrate the First Friday Mass in the morning in Annunciation BVM Roman Catholic Church with the students. Also attending were students from the music program at Marian High School.
When asked about being her older sister's hero, McGuire smiled and said Sarah being his hero, too.
"It's amazing what she does for the young kids day in and day out," he said after Mass. "I have great respect there for that."
In the afternoon, a program and party was held in the school to reveal the books created by the students. Their heroes sat and listened as each one read their section of the book to everyone, after which they presented a gift bag to the hero. Some heroes were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, grandparents and friends. One student, Diane Kim, considers Sarah as her hero, while Michael Johnson said Sister Mary Sue Carwile, IHM, is his hero.
In the previous school year, Johnson was in kindergarten at McAdoo Catholic Elementary School. After the school closed, Johnson came to Trinity Academy, and Carwile was assigned as principal at St. James Catholic School, Falls Church, Virginia. Thanks to modern technology, Carwile was able to attend the Trinity Academy event through an iPad using FaceTime. Johnson and Carwile were able to chat live as other students crowded around him.
Sarah said the selections of heroes were very personal and loving.
"The one child, Landon, chose his little brother because he likes to sit next to him," Sarah said before the program. "That's what makes him his hero. One girl chose Mommy because she kisses her at night before she goes to bed. It's these little things that make these people so special and this is their day to shine. One hero told me that she didn't know she meant that much to the little girl. It's nice to be reaffirmed."
Each student's contribution to the book was a hand-written message about their hero on the right hand page and a photo and artwork on the facing page. Relles Barcenas chose her mother as her hero, writing, "My hero is my Mom. She is caring and loving. My hero is good at cooking. I love my hero because when I go to sleep, she gives me a kiss."
Johnny Burke wrote, "My hero is my brother, Daemon. He is my hero because he is caring and loving. My hero is good at rolling. I love my hero. He is silly."
Abigail Nunez's hero is her father: "My hero is my Dad. He is funny and brave. My hero is good at exercising. I love my hero because he protects me."
After each student read from their page in the book, they took a gift bag and presented it to their hero. One of the recipients was James Dixon, who received his gift from his grandson, Liam Messina. Dixon's smile showed his happiness in being a hero to his grandson.
"I was told by him that I was his hero. We spend a lot of time together, like fishing," Dixon said after the program.