The High School Graduating Class of 2028
St. Peter Indian Mission School
The 8th Grade Promotion happened over two days. On Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 p.m. the Parents, Families and the St. Peter Community gathered in Church to pray the Rosary for the promoting class. The Rosary was offered by all for the success of the 8th grade class as they journey to High School begins and many are going to be Freshmen at St. Peter High School! Following the Rosary, all gathered in the school dining room for a declines meal prepared by the High School Culinary Class and their Teacher, Ms. Kaylin Terry.
On Thursday, May 24th, the entire school community traveled to the AkChin Indian Community, located about 20 miles south of the Mission, for our Eighth Grade Promotion Mass!
Our St. Peter Mission Church has a capacity of about 200 children, or about 150 adults. Up until 3 years ago, we always had our Promotion Mass at St. Peter’s, but the promotion class could only invite 5 people to be inside the Church. Everyone else was standing outside in 115 degree weather, and the children in the younger grades could never attend!
One of the ‘blessings’ of COVID was that we couldn’t have large gatherings on the Reservation, because of social distancing etc., and in brainstorming we realized that St. Francis Church on the AkChin Reservation is huge (capacity 400)! Our Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit serve the AkChin Community and the leader of the Community, Flores Ruelas, was most welcoming, and now for the third year our Promotion Mass takes place in AkChin where we FILL the Church to capacity!
Over 400 children, family members and friends prayed for and CELEBRATED MASS with the 18 members of the Promotion Class and the Governor of Gila River, Stephen Lewis asked to speak at Mass, and he carried forth the message of BE THE LIGHT while challenging our students to continue to thrive on the path they are already on and stay close to Jesus! It was an inspiring celebration of LIGHT AND JOY!
