When Colin and Maria Coleman moved to the United States, they were certain of one thing.
“We really wanted our child to attend a Catholic school,” said Maria, “but found the cost of tuition beyond our financial means.”
When the family heard about the Seeds of Hope Adopt-a-Student program through St. Catherine of Siena Parish, they decided to apply for their son Justin.
“As practicing Catholics, we see it as vital to pass on a Christ-centered education to our children,” said Colin.
The Colemans put their Catholic faith at the forefront of their lives. Maria is a teacher and Colin is a deacon, both at St. Catherine of Siena. Justin is a sixth grader at the parish school.
“The scholarship is of great importance because, as a missionary family, we work on a very tight budget,” said Colin.
Justin was accepted into the Adopt-a-Student program, which pairs a scholarship donor with a student who, with the financial help, is able to attend Catholic school.
“I feel happy to know someone cares about me and my education,” said Justin.
Through the program, Justin has been able to meet his sponsor and he keeps in touch by sending cards during Christmas and Easter.
The generosity of a donor isn’t lost on students like Justin, who are eager to grow in faith and virtue at the school they love.
“Going to St. Catherine’s has helped my faith life because I get to attend Mass twice a week, sometimes the [priests] have come into class to teach us about God, [and] my teachers also share their faith with me,” said Justin.
Justin is grateful for the faith-filled experiences he’s had, including reenacting the Stations of the Cross and reading the Gospel at school Masses.
“All of these are things I would only have experienced at a Catholic school,” he said.
Colin and Maria are grateful for how welcomed they’ve felt at St. Catherine since moving to the United States.
“It has been and continues to be such a privilege to be so connected to St. Catherine’s,” said Maria. “Our extended family is all in New Zealand, so St. Catherine’s is really a big part of our USA family, as well as the Community of the Beatitudes that we are members of.”
Justin’s scholarship is another key reason for their gratitude.
“We are tremendously grateful to our donor who provides Justin’s scholarship,” said Maria. “We keep Justin’s donor in our prayers and give thanks to God for his wonderful providence.”
Colin agreed.
“I think it is a great witness that someone has taken a personal interest to help in a child’s education,” he said.
