Greenville’s tight-knit school puts faith first

by Matt Hess Photos by Danny Schneible

Tim Wiedenmann was uneasy about leaving his religion classroom at a larger school to become principal of St. Mary’s School in Greenville, OH. He expected to really miss interacting with students as an administrator, but now in his second year at St. Mary’s, Wiedenmann confidently says, “I don’t feel removed by being an administrator at all. I do get time to interact with students and my staff.”

The community spirit and shared goal of forming saints inspires Wiedenmann in his ministry at the school.

He found what many Greenville residents discover: This tight-knit parish and school community is the perfect environment for education. The school has served the town since its founding in 1888. Rich Hadden, a community member and student at St. Mary in the 1980s, still remembers Sisters of Charity who taught him there. Their religious community led classes at St. Mary’s for decades. Today, Hadden and other lay parishioners staff the school of about 90 students, in kindergarten through eighth grade. Hadden teaches students how to responsibly use technology in the quest to find truth.

“The fact that St. Mary’s is small provides for good education and a grounding in faith,” said Hadden, who confided that the school provided an encounter with Christ that gave him the firm footing he needed for his future.

St. Mary’s community has always supported their students, as evidenced by alumni who continue giving for future generations.

Josh and Kerri Burns discovered St. Mary’s School and Parish after converting to Catholicism, while looking for a school for their eldest daughter. “My wife and I really wanted her to attend a school that matched our values,” said Josh. “We always knew St. Mary’s existed, and kids from St. Mary’s were typically good kids who were ahead of their class.”

While drawn to St. Mary’s School for its values and clarity in proclaiming the faith, the Burns found the genesis of those qualities in a strong sense of community. They came into the Catholic Church in October 2022 after talking to Father Matt Feist, the parochial vicar, and attending Mass with the parish community. Josh shared, “Kerri and I were drawn into St. Mary’s by their unbelievably warm and welcoming community. We’ve never felt so welcome in any religious setting before, and we’ve built so many lasting friendships with many of the young families.”

Josh now sits on the school’s Board of Trustees and volunteers at parish and school events.

The Catholic community is unique at St. Mary’s, where parish life and the school converge, and Wiedenmann loves seeing so many families attending the school at Sunday Mass. “It’s not uncommon for a student to come up to me after Mass and say hello,” he said.

In Greenville, families value their faith and take the Sunday obligation seriously, knowing that is the start of forming a life of prayer.

“All students have religion class, but integrated in every class is prayer,” said Wiedenmann. The school prays three times a day, with the Angelus being a staple prayed daily over the intercom. By junior high, many students are comfortable leading prayer and voicing their petitions. Friday whole-school Masses are led by students, who do the readings, sing the hymns and serve at the altar. Active roles in the liturgy help students to deepen their appreciation for the Mass, and older students often model prayer for the younger ones.

The community and its prayer are what root St. Mary’s School in its mission of Catholic education. Training in prayer is just as valuable as math and science, for that is where students encounter Christ — which is the heart of what St. Mary’s strives to impart to the future saints.

This article appeared in the January 2024 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.