GREENSBORO — Bishop Michael Martin visited Our Lady of Grace School for the first time on March 24. He peeked in classrooms for story time, shared chocolate chip cookies in the library, sat with students and colored, and helped solve math problems, all before tackling the main purpose of his visit - the dedication of two school wings.
“It was wonderful; he is a very humble and connected bishop,” said Principal Catherine Rusch. “He is a remarkable speaker and has a unique way of connecting with children. He loved it. He had a great visit.”
The pinnacle of the day was around 2:00 p.m., when the entire school gathered in the gym. After opening with a prayer, the children’s choir serenaded the crowd with the hymn “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” before the re-naming and dedication of the wings.
The two wings that make up the heart of the OLG campus were never properly named. They were dubbed the “old” and the “new” school building, or the “1976 building” and the “2014 building.”
Parishioner Matt Fitzgerald challenged the school to name the wings to foster a stronger connection to Our Lady of Grace’s mission.
“Now is the perfect time for the wings to bring our hearts and minds to the lives of the saints instead of the year they were constructed,” Rusch said.
The 1976 wing is being renamed “The Sheen Wing” after the charismatic Venerable Fulton Sheen, who visited the school almost 50 years ago to bless the structure, which at the time was used as a Parish Activity Center.
Ever since, Archbishop Sheen became close to the hearts of OLG parishioners who began reading his 60 books, listening to his old radio programs on YouTube, and watching his EWTN television reruns.
“He is about witnessing to truth,” Rusch said. “He used any means necessary to spread the Word of God. This wing will be dedicated to the formation of saints and scholars.”
The Terrell family, who always enjoyed Sheen’s wit, went the extra mile by naming their firstborn son Fulton Sheen. The Terrells did not realize it at the time, but baby Fulton was born on Nov. 14, the same day in 1976 when his notable visit to OLG took place.
Fulton Sheen Terrell, now an OLG fifth grader, appropriately dressed for the occasion, wearing a black cassock with red rope buttons and a matching pellegrina.
During the dedication ceremony, he was accompanied by a schoolmate, Aliya Rojanapon, who shared a short biography on the icon.
Sheen believed that Catholic education was not just about forming the intellect but about shaping the whole person - mind, heart and soul - so that they could live lives of purpose and faith.
This was followed up with a second student, Juan Pablo Pavajeau, explaining the connection of the new Sheen Wing to OLG’s mission.
"The Sheen Wing, which houses our gathering spaces, reminds us that we are called to learn and live out our faith in communion with others,” he said. “Just as Sheen reached millions through his words and witness, may this space be a place where we strengthen our faith and share it with others."
The second wing, which was added in 2014, was also named after a Saint who had roots in Greensboro - Sister Katharine Drexel.
“We are dedicating this wing to the dignity of all,” Rusch said. “Today we have a beautifully diverse community that is closer than ever. Our goal is for every single child to see every other child as a child of God instead of focusing on their differences.”
Although there were not any children named Katharine Drexel, Jubilee Otwell dressed up in a habit and played her part.
Drexel was a pioneer of the integration of Catholic schools and parishes. Long before Brown vs. The Board of Education in 1954, she made racial equality a priority. In 1926, she agreed to fund St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Greensboro under the condition it was fully desegregated, allowing a place of worship for all people.
“She founded schools across the country, ensuring that all children, regardless of race or background, had the opportunity to learn,” Michael Molony shared. “She worked tirelessly to ensure that all children received an education grounded in the Catholic faith and taught us the value of inclusive and equal education. Her life was a testament to the dignity of every person. Her work speaks directly to our school’s mission of recognizing and upholding the God-given dignity of every individual.”
After the Bishop blessed name plaques for the wings, he asked the middle schoolers to raise their hands and gave them a challenge.
“I want you to think about this: when you are on social media, every post you make, every remark you make... does all of that bring people's hearts and minds to Jesus?” he asked. “Are you being positive? Are you being uplifting? Are you being supportive?”
"His message during our dedication ceremony was simple but powerful—when they say Sheen, remember to bring their friends to Christ in what they do, say, and post online; when they say Drexel, remember to love their classmates," Rusch shared.
At the end of the dedication, students had one final surprise for Bishop Martin—a handmade gift filled with heartfelt prayers and encouragement. They presented him with a box of “Open When” envelopes, each created by a different grade and filled with letters, artwork, and messages to uplift him in moments of need.
“He looked at me, and his mouth dropped,” Rusch said. “I think he was genuinely surprised. Inside those envelopes was so much prayer, sentiment, hard work and love.”
— Lisa Geraci. Photos provided by Megan Kopp and Julia Fergus
