Students receive the body of Christ at St. Thérèse Academy

For the first time in school history, students at St. Thérèse Academy were able to receive first Communion on campus after going through sacramental preparation in their religion classes. 

Fifteen students from the lower elementary school received the sacrament from Father Chris DeLerno on May 4 at a 1 p.m. Mass at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Metairie. 

“Father Chris had to make a few accommodations for our students,” said Melissa Roussel, head of St. Thérèse Academy. “He was able to work through the sacrament with the use of the students’ communication devices when needed.” 

“Many parents were in tears during the Mass,” she added. “Parents were so happy for their students to be able to go through the sacramental prep process and be able to receive the sacrament with their teacher and their school family. Parents mentioned that this is the place they are most comfortable and where they have grown the most in their faith. We’re very thankful to Father Chris for working through this process.” 

Amid the fist bumps and ear-to-ear smiles, the 15 students who received the Eucharist for the first time were prepared and ready thanks to the community of clergy who made this possible for the students and to Father DeLerno, who was open throughout the entire process. 

“This has been such an amazing process for our families,” Roussel said. “Sometimes as a parent of a child with special needs, you feel like you get lost in your ability to find the right place for them and find the right people who understand their specific and unique needs. 

“Although many of our church parishes are very welcoming to our families with students with exceptional needs, it is often difficult for our DREs to make the specific accommodations for our students. It’s no fault of their own. Most of these positions are volunteers. Here at school, everybody understands our kids, and we work with them daily.” 

St. Thérèse has formed its program around students’ unique needs and the things that make them unique. The school feels there is no better place for them to learn about their faith than at St. Thérèse, where adjustments are already being made for them.

“We are definitely planning on doing this again next year,” Roussel said. “We want to continue to offer their students opportunities to grow in their faith and become closer to our Lord Jesus Christ, and if that means that we are working through sacramental prep and planning these special events for our students, that is what we hope to do.”