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Students take on pro-life cause

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
(Email Katie)

ASHTON/SHELDON – Confirmation students from St. Patrick’s in Sheldon and St. Mary’s in Ashton have taken on the pro-life cause in their own way by making and selling bracelets.

This project unfolded after confirmation teachers, Marilee Schmalen and Colleen Perry, were talking to the students about the importance of missions as adult Christians.

“We were talking about the social justice mission of the church and caring for the poor and vulnerable,” said Schmalen. “If it is something that they feel passionate about, maybe as they grow older and become more involved as adults they won’t be hesitant to be involved and volunteer for things. As confirmation students they are being brought into the church as an adult. They are being taught to carry on Jesus’ mission.”

The students were asked to brainstorm ideas and pick one for the class to take on the remainder of the year. They chose the pro-life, abortion cause.

“Our church doesn’t support abortion,” said Kori Kruger, a sophomore and member of St. Patrick’s. “We learned how horrible it is and realized how serious the matter is. I really wanted to do something to stop it.”

The students had listened to a pro-life presentation in October and become more aware of the cause, explained Paulette Karolczak, DRE at St. Patrick’s.

“They are taking some really neat steps to show their progress towards becoming adults in our Christian church. They have not only heard about it, but are actually living it out,” she said. “A part of being confirmed is asking them to move beyond their comfort level and to not just meet their religious obligation on Sundays. It is asking them to do more, to step out and live their faith.”

Karolczak added that she is excited to see the students “grasping onto that and showing that they can make a difference.”

They came up with the idea to make pro-life bracelets. For about two months they have been getting together in the evenings at Kruger’s house and sometimes during class to make the bracelets.

The bracelets are made of blue, pink and white beads, in different combinations, with a heart charm with the words “made with love.”

They have been selling the bracelets for $2 at school through word of mouth and after Masses at St. Patrick and St. Mary Parishes to raise money for the pro-life cause. They made posters to advertise their sales and spoke to Father Schimmer about announcing it at church.

The students plan to sell the bracelets at St. Patrick’s School in Sheldon as well.

According to Kruger, not only have the bracelets been selling at school and after Masses, the students have been receiving orders for them.

“I never thought I would be able to do anything that would make an impact,” she said. “Hopefully we can get a lot more sold and the money will go to a good cause.”

The proceeds of the bracelets will be donated to Iowa Right to Life. So far, the students have raised close to $400.

“We talked about all the different organizations,” said Schmalen. “They decided that since it was in Iowa it was more local, so it was going to go to them.”

She said that she has very little to do with the project other than asking how it is going.

“They have really taken this project on as their own. I am pretty proud of that,” she said.
The confirmation students are set to be confirmed on April 21.