Columbus Our Lady of Bethlehem School and Childcare had much to celebrate on Tuesday, April 22: It was students’ first day back to school after Easter, known as “Alleluia Day,” and Earth Day, which came with a special announcement.
Our Lady of Bethlehem received national recognition as a St. Kateri Habitat site, which is a designated healthy habitat for people, plants and wildlife. The school received the designation from the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Conservation Center, a non-profit organization.
St. Kateri Habitats are sanctuaries that provide essential resources for people and wildlife. The habitats offer food, water, shelter and space for wildlife, and serve as places of prayer and contemplation for individuals. The spaces embody the coexistence of faith and ecological stewardship, according to the St. Kateri Conversation Center’s website.
St. Kateri Habitats must meet at least two of five criteria, including: food, water, cover and space for people and wildlife; native trees, shrubs and wildflowers; ecosystem services; clean, renewable energy and sustainable practices; and sacred and sacramental places, such as Marian gardens, prayer gardens or shrines. Each habitat must include a statue of the Blessed Mother, a saint or cross as a reminder of God’s presence in every corner of creation.
Our Lady of Bethlehem’s St. Kateri Habitat is located on the campus’ front yard. The school sits on 1.5 acres of land, said principal Lori Dulin. The habitat site includes a bird bath, food for animals, plants and a statue of Our Lady. Dulin estimated that about 60 percent of plants in the space are native species.
She said the school is blessed with “a green space and to have a place where boys and girls can come and really flourish among God’s creation.” Students also participate in the caretaking of the St. Kateri Habitat.
“It’s really showing them what we’re supposed to do as the stewards of God’s creation,” Dulin said. “To have that here and part of their everyday faith and learning experience, it was invaluable to us and a real blessing.”
The site began as a Marian garden created by former student Andrew Ferris. He attended Our Lady of Bethlehem, Columbus St. Agatha and St. Charles Preparatory schools and created the garden as an Eagle Scout project. The garden was blessed by Bishop Earl Fernandes in October 2023.
A family whose children previously attended Our Lady of Bethlehem believed that, given the vast amount of green space, it could qualify as a habitat site. They encouraged the school to apply.
The application was accepted and the space is now listed in the national registry of St. Kateri Habitat sites. As part of its designation, the school will receive a St. Kateri Habitat yard sign.
Habitat sites can be established at homes, schools or churches. Other sites in the diocese include Hilliard St. Brendan the Navigator Church, the Catholic Schools of Zanesville (Bishop Fenwick School and Bishop Rosecrans High School) and St. Joseph Montessori School.
Our Lady of Bethlehem, the diocese’s newest St. Kateri Habitat site, announced the news to the community on Earth Day. St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), the first canonized indigenous woman of North America, is the patron saint of ecology.
To celebrate the school’s designation, kindergarten students made “St. Kateri crosses” out of tree branches and distributed them to their families. Each cross included a St. Kateri quote and picture of the saint. St. Kateri was known to make simple wooden crosses, which she placed around forests for people to find and as a testament to her faith.
Coinciding with Earth Day, Our Lady of Bethlehem students celebrated “Alleluia Day” on April 22. The day marked students’ return to school after time off during the Sacred Triduum and Easter Monday.
Classes visited the school’s multipurpose room for Alleluia Day activities to celebrate. Students received a “Happy Easter” sticker, participated in a “Jesus is Alive” freeze dance and made “He is Risen” headbands. Each headband included a colored graphic of the tombstone rolled away after Christ’s Resurrection. The activity concluded with an “Alleluia, He is Risen” video.
Our Lady of Bethlehem School includes Infant and Toddler, Totally Terrific Twos, Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs. The school was founded in 1956 by the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus and is the only Catholic school in central Ohio with a complete emphasis on early childhood education.