St. John Vianney Catholic School celebrates its Hispanic culture
Superintendent of Catholic Schools Henry Fortier addresses students from St. John Vianney Catholic School during the celebration of their Hispanic Heritage Month Mass, telling them that they are special and made in the image of God. (Photo by LINDA CALDWELL)
By LINDA CALDWELL
Special to the Florida Catholic
ORLANDO — October is National Hispanic Heritage Month, and schools throughout the Diocese of Orlando are recognizing the important contribution the Hispanic community brings to our Universal Church. This month is especially significant to one Orlando school, as students are immersed in the Hispanic culture as part of a two-way immersion program that provides classroom instruction using a dual-language model.
St. John Vianney is the only dual-language school in the diocese. As such, 50 percent of classroom construction is taught in English and 50 percent in Spanish. The program began in the fall of 2017 with Pre-K4, and each year another grade level has been added as the original class progresses. With the first class now in third grade, Principal Cathy Marshall anticipates that the entire school will be bilingual during the 2026-2027 academic year.
A St. John Vianney Catholic School student places a flag of a Hispanic country in a display for national Hispanic Heritage Month. As the only dual-language Catholic school in the state, students learn in both Spanish and English. The school celebrated its dual-language distinction with Mass presented in Spanish and English. (Photo by LINDA CALDWELL)
On Oct. 8, the St. John Vianney Catholic School community celebrated its Hispanic culture during its annual Heritage Day Mass, led by Father Carlos Cabán. Thirteen of the 42 nations represented in the student body are Hispanic countries.
To celebrate, third graders wore sashes bearing the names of and carrying the flags of the various Hispanic nations represented in the school. Students led the procession and served as readers during the celebration.
St. John Vianney Catholic School students wave flags of the many Hispanic countries represented in the heritage of the student body. The school celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month during Mass. As the only Catholic dual-language school in the state, where students learn in both Spanish and English, the school community finds Hispanic Heritage Month special. (Photo by LINDA CALDWELL)
On behalf of the school community, Father Cabán and Ms. Marshall thanked Henry Fortier, secretary of education and superintendent of Catholic schools, for his vision and commitment to bringing a bilingual school to the diocese.
Mr. Fortier thanked the community, and speaking to the students, noted that as the only Catholic dual-language student body in the state, they are special. He encouraged students to see God in each other.
“We are all equal in God’s eyes. All these countries are so different, but we are all in the same family, God’s family,” Mr. Fortier said. “So when you look at each other and think of this year’s theme, ‘Made in the Image of God,’ and you think about how you cook your food, the music you listen to, the language you speak, the color of your eyes and hair. All that is an expression of how diverse God is because everyone is made in that image.”