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ST.BENEDICTELEMENTARY SCHOOLCELEBRATES

SCHOOL-WIDE SEDER MEAL

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Doreen Morand

Phone: (773) 463-6797, Ext. 420

Pager: (773) 330-4501

Email:

Web site:

CHICAGO (March 20, 2008) –While the students ofNorth Side St. Benedict Elementary School (SBES) in Chicagocelebrated the traditional rites of Easter, they also took part in

a school-wide Seder meal, the traditional rite of Passover, which is the Jewish custom that celebrates God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people from slavery. SBES Students of differing grades paired together to experience the “mini-retreat”of Passover. The Seder meal event was celebratedthrough the collaborative effort between SBES teachers and St. Benedict’s Faith Buddy Program, made up of preschool and elementary school students who worktogether on faith-based projects throughout the school year.This includes exploration of other religions’ rites and customs.

Students, teachers and staff held the Holy Thursday the Seder at 1 pm on Holy Thursday, March 20, 2008, at the SBESAckermanCenter, setting up six stations with meal symbols, in the Jewish tradition,to remind them that God is with them and blesses them. The stations included candle lighting, tasting of bitter herbs and “haroset” which is the sharing of matzah, to represent communal wine and the cleansing each others’ hands. The Passover meal closed with a short reading from the Apostle John’s Gospel.

SBES principal, Rachel Gemo, noted how the meal celebration illustrated the connection between the Jewish and Catholic traditions, especially to remind SBES Catholic students of their roots in Judaism. “The students love working together on faith-based projects,” Gemo said, “and traditions like this make our student experience very unique here at SBES.”

Since 1902, the Schools of St. Benedict have prepared young people from preschool through high school for life-long learning through academic excellence based on individual needs and talents, spiritual formation, personal growth and a commitment to a multicultural community life and Christian stewardship.

A DePaul University of Chicago Professional Development Partner, St. Benedict Elementary School Excels in educating the whole child, Challenges students to develop their God-given talents, Honors each other’s gifts and diversity, Creates a Christian community by sharing our gifts and Serves the Lord and each other.

For more information on the schools of St. Benedict, please visit

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Chicago’s North Side St. Benedict Elementary School (SBES)celebrating the traditional rites of Easter also took part in a school-wide Seder meal, the traditional rite of Passover, which is the Jewish custom that celebrates God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people from slavery. Activitiesincluded washing of one another’s hands (to replace traditional feet washing) and was celebrated through the collaborative effort between SBES teachers and St. Benedict’s Faith Buddy Program, made up of preschool and elementary school students who work together on faith-based projects. This includes exploration of other religions’ rites and customs.