by Sister Maria Rosario Gaite, RSM | www.sistersofmercyguam.org
They meet every Wednesday afternoon after school. When the dismissal bell rings, twelve students from kindergarten to 8th grade proceed to their assigned classrooms, in different small groups with their teacher facilitators. They are our typical students, except that they are hurting inside because of the loss of a parent due to death, divorce and custody battles, or deployment overseas.
Rainbows for All Children is an international not-for-profit organization that fosters healing among children grieving a loss from a life-altering crisis, and it was introduced to our school, Santa Barbara Catholic School, in Dededo, Guam a few years ago. We have a growing number of students who are in need of healing and support and our trained teacher facilitators work with the children in a safe, caring environment to help them navigate the painful issues they face.
As an educator, I realize that it is important to reach out to our students who are dealing with trauma and grief at a young age. These children are vulnerable and are at a higher risk of becoming distracted in their studies, socially withdrawn and engaged in aggressive behaviors. Since integrating Rainbows for All Children into our school, I have seen such positive effects. The children are becoming more sociable and focused on their studies and they look forward excitedly to their weekly Rainbows sessions. Parents have also expressed their own gratitude for the program. One parent shared that she didn’t know how to help her children with their emotional needs because she was also grieving due to a painful divorce.
As a Sister of Mercy, I can’t help but recognize how the Rainbows for All Children program connects with our charism of reaching out to the vulnerable in our society. Catherine McAuley’s preferential option to reach out to people who are poor, especially women and children, remains a strong commitment that we try to infuse in the school’s life. Above all, it is sharing God’s unconditional love and compassion and bringing the sunshine back into the children’s lives after going through a storm of hurt, fear, and grief.
When the dismissal bell rings every Wednesday afternoon and I see our students proceed to their respective rooms, I smile and whisper a prayer for all our 12 students and caring facilitators. At Santa Barbara Catholic School, the rainbow of God’s Mercy is making a positive impact and difference in the lives of God’s precious children.