elsiestormberg & mackenziefuss

On Oct. 8, a record-breaking 704 grandparents joined the Marian community to celebrate life. The celebration included a Mass, valued conversations, and delicious danishes from Pettit’s Pastries.

“The purpose [of Grandparents Day Mass] is an opportunity for the girls to bring family members who would not normally have an opportunity to come into the building to experience Marian in a way they do not normally get to through Mass,” Mrs. Shari Gilg,

Advancement Events Director, said. This occasion could not have happened without the help of several volunteers. “The night before, the Advancement Team set up the Quad, cafeteria, and old gym for the Mass and breakfast. We had 15 adult volunteers, five [Creighton] Prep boys, and Campus Ministry to help. On the day of, we had 30 student volunteers and 20 parent volunteers. The students had a variety of jobs, such as greeters, servers, clean up, and photographers. The parents helped with seating and setting up for breakfast,” Gilg said.

Grandparents Day Mass has been a tradition for at least 15 years. Students annually invite their grandparents to Marian for Mass and breakfast. The unusually large group of grandparents entered the building around 9 a.m. to begin the search for their granddaughters. A whopping 424 students swarmed into the Quad and started the mad dash to find their grandparent(s). “You do not know the definition

of struggle until you try to find your grandma who is 5 feet tall in a sea of giants,” sophomore Maddie Robertson said.

Originally, the Mass was held in February during Catholic Schools Week. Due to the cold of Nebraska winter, many grandparents opted out of making the icy trek to Marian which resulted in around 50 attendees. In the years since, Grandparents Day Mass has developed into a beloved autumn tradition. Grandparents and students alike look forward to this day every year.

“It’s my favorite day of the year. I love meeting Keara’s friends and spending quality time with her,” John McCarthy, grandfather of junior Keara Compton, said.

McCarthy’s granddaughter feels that this tradition is important as well.

“It creates a special bond between two generations and provides something where you can share something special with your grandparents and vice versa,” Compton said.

Grandparents Day Mass is a beneficial tradition that helps Marian girls connect with their grandparents. This tradition proves to be valuable for grandparents and granddaughters for creating memories that will last lifetimes.