Life lessons learned in Catholic mission

Marching songs, catechism and Wonder bread: the beginning of summer. What a treat!

"Freedom!" we yelled as we ran out of Riverside Elementary and into summer vacation. For days, we kept on with the saying, "No more pencils, no more books, and no more teachers' dirty looks." To keep us busy and teach us about being good Catholics, Father Collins, the priest of the Catholic Guadalupe Mission, started summer school with Sisters of Perpetual Adoration serving as teachers. "The Mission" was a converted brick home at 525 West 400 South located next to the old Fourth South viaduct. Both are long gone.

For many of us poor kids, the Mission was a second home where we learned about religion in catechism classes, along with painting, woodworking, glass painting, sewing, crocheting, organized games and, most importantly, lasting values about caring for others. To make sure we practiced them, the sisters kept us in line. I often wonder whether my ears are big because Sister Sophia kept pulling them every time I got out of line (which was often). By their example, Father Collins and the sisters taught us about love, sharing and community. They not only fed our souls, but our bodies as well.

The Mission served as a settlement home for many ethnic groups, including Mexicans, Greeks, Syrians, Armenians, Scandinavians, Irish and others. Summer school started in the morning with prayer and a talk by Father Collins, then marching out on the playing field in the back yard of the Mission, and later softball and volleyball. It seemed we marched everywhere to John Phillip Souza's music, especially The Washington Post March. To this day, I get chills listening to his music. We started the morning with marches and ended the day marching to the back of the church where we got a loaf of day-old Wonder bread, the one that came in a bag with red, yellow and blue dots. That was a big treat, and a break from tortillas.

Besides trying to socialize us wild kids with religious teachings, they taught us art, crafts and doing things for others. Somehow learning how to be religious was different during summer school than on Sundays and holy days of obligation. I think the snacks that went along with the learning made it fun. Father Collins was a kind, religious man that lived the vows of poverty and was dedicated to his parishioners.

Toward the end of the summer, we had bike parades. Father Collins also seemed to take great joy in having an auction at the end of summer school. He would hang sheets on the walls with toys pinned on, and we kids would bid on them. It was his way to make sure we learned our catechism by earning tokens that came from the bottom of used votive candles, which we then used as money.

The Guadalupe Mission played a major part in the lives of many of us. It helped us realize the beauty and value of life and learn we are part of something greater and that sharing and giving to others is one of the gifts of life. Father Collins and the sisters were role models who gave of themselves and showed us how to live with each other — by marching, earning tokens and enjoying day-old Wonder Bread.

A Utah native, John Florez has been on the staff of Senator Orrin Hatch, was former Utah Industrial Commissioner and filled White House appointments including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor and Commission on Hispanic Education.