First Fridays

Fridays at St. Mary School were a half day for us each and every Friday. We were dismissed at midday to allow the public school children (PSKs) to be transported to our school for religious education each Friday afternoon. It was great to have a half-day of school. It was even greater to have almost no classwork at all. This happened once a month on “First Fridays”.

Each First Friday of the month we had a Mass of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The entire school, all eight grades, had their mandatory education in the morning with the attendance of Mass as our religious education. The morning was so much shorter than the usual Friday. I remember the air being filled with so much more anticipation of the pending dismissal than on all the other days as we were dismissed directly from the church after Mass.

We would pack our book bags with all the necessary weekend homework assignments. The girls would fumble through their desks for the mandatory chapel veil or mantilla for Mass. Our heads were still obligated to be covered back then. Two bobby pins were the norm to keep our veils in place when we were fidgety. Knee sox were pulled up in place. The boys had to straighten their ties and tuck in their shirts.

No gum…EVER!...especially at Mass.

When the entire school was ready, we quietly filed from our classroom in order of grade, youngest first, across the parking lot to the church. We took our seats and had to be on our extra best behavior as the First Friday Mass was open to all parishioners. Friends, family and neighbors could be there. Fidgeting and talking would be noticed. As I mentioned before, our excitement was peaked with this very short school day. A lot was to be contained for the hour in Mass.

I’m not sure if I truly understood the extra devotion to Jesus at the time since Jesus always loved us anyhow. Extra prayers and efforts would be noticed by Him though. He’s that kind of a guy to take notice! I don’t think He minded the fidgeting as we contained our excitement of an afternoon of play ahead. He was a kid once too y’know!

Cathy