In Catholic schools across the Diocese of Gaylord, children are taught from their earliest years that faith is not only learned but lived. Through prayer, Scripture, the sacraments and daily acts of kindness, their hearts are formed to recognize Christ in every person they meet.
It is in this environment that current second-grader Gwen Cencer at St. Ann School in Cadillac is learning what it means to live the Gospel through the corporal works of mercy.
Gwen’s Moment of Compassion
During Christmas break in 2023, kindergartner Gwen and her family stopped at McDonald’s on a cold December afternoon. As they walked inside, Gwen noticed a young man searching through the trash for food. Her father, Dave Cencer, a parent of three St. Ann students, says the moment stopped her completely.
“It hit her to the core,” Dave reflects. “She saw someone hungry and alone.
for the homeless to Chris Crawley, then-executive director of New Hope
Center in Cadillac, in 2024.
“Gwen immediately asked us to buy the man a meal, but before we could return outside, he disappeared,” explains Dave. “Gwen insisted we search nearby streets, hoping to find him. When we could not find him, she asked that the meal be given to someone else in need.”
Gwen recalls: “I wanted to help because I knew Jesus wanted me to. I kept thinking about how cold this man must have been.”
For Gwen, this simple act became her first lived experience of the corporal works of mercy. At school when she shared what happened, Gwen asked her then-teacher Joann Brown if her class could help the homeless.
St. Ann students, not just from her class but the whole school, responded in action. Soon, Gwen and many other children were collecting food, winter coats, hats and gloves for people experiencing homelessness in Cadillac.
“You could see the Holy Spirit moving through the school,” Dave reflects. “What started with Gwen spread into classrooms and families across the community.”
Love in Action at a Young Age
Dave says Gwen’s response reflects what Catholic education is meant to do.
“The seeds are planted early,” he shares. “Catholic schools teach children to be disciples. Gwen understood that faith means helping people when they are suffering.”
Gwen says she was simply trying to do what she felt Jesus wanted her to do.
“I was happy we could help other people in Cadillac,” she reflects.
Her story shows how even a then kindergartner can begin living the Gospel through mercy, compassion and service. In her actions, the corporal works of mercy become real and personal, not abstract ideas, but lived love.
Forming Hearts, Minds and Disciples
Penny Clemens, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Gaylord, says stories like Gwen’s reveal what makes Catholic education distinct. Catholic schools form the whole child: heart, mind and soul, so students learn to live in communion with Christ and others.
“Students learn about the people behind the needs and begin building empathy and compassion,” she explains. “As they grow older, they receive service opportunities that help put a human face on poverty and need.
“This formation begins in early childhood and continues through graduation. Daily prayer, Mass, sacramental life and service shape a culture where faith becomes action.
“Students across the Diocese of Gaylord learn through Scripture how to treat and interact with others,” Penny adds. “The culture of our schools instills love for God, oneself and others.”
with Father Michael Janowski and Father Kunal Singh
at her First Communion and Confirmation in May 2026.
This is why Catholic schools are worth choosing. They not only prepare students academically, but they prepare them for life rooted in love, communion and mission.
“When you enter our schools, you feel the radiant joy immediately,” she says. “It is the kind of joy that is visible in the hallways and classrooms, where smiles come easily, laughter is natural and a sense of peace seems to settle over everything. They feel like family, and students and teachers naturally turn to prayer together.”
Catholic schools partner with parents to form children who learn to think critically, act with integrity and respond to the needs of others.
“Catholic schools help children recognize Christ in others and respond with love,” Penny ends. “That is what makes them so special.”
