Students at St. Alphonsus School in New Orleans celebrated Black History Month with a very special presentation for some very special guests: the Denver Province leadership team and newly appointed Archbishop James Checchio his first visit to any of the parochial schools in the Archdiocese.

It is important for us to remember our history as African Americans in our African American neighborhood. None of the students are Catholic, but St. Alphonsus has such a good reputation in New Orleans that parents/guardians send these children to our school.

The children have a beautiful choir led by the teachers, and a dance group because dance is built into the African American culture. It is a beautiful thing to see the girls dancing in Praise of God. During the performance, some of the kids came forward to place a blessing on the forehead of Archbishop Checchio.

No one was more pleased with the Black History Month performance than Sr. Monica Ellerbusch, a Sister of Mercy who grew up in the parish and has served as principal of St. Alphonsus School for more than 30 years. The Sisters of Mercy are trusted partners in ministry who have collaborated with the Redemptorists in this same neighborhood for decades.