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October 26, 2022Saint Mary Catholic School in Ponca City has been serving the educational needs of Kay County for more than 120 years – training the students and nourishing their minds and souls. That tradition continues today, and on Oct. 8, the school was on full display as the parish held their annual Fall Fest in support of the school.
Sitting in his office at Saint Mary Catholic Church, Father Carson Krittenbrink reflected on the success of the event.
“I thought it was great. It was packed, everyone seemed to have fun. We had plenty of food, plenty of drinks, plenty of fun,” Father Krittenbrink said, estimating that approximately 1,000 people attended at some point in the evening.
What is now Saint Mary Catholic School opened in 1901 as Saint Mary’s Academy, operated by a group of religious sisters. Ponca City’s original parish, Saint Felix Catholic Church, was located closer to downtown, near where the First United Methodist Church is today. The first facility burned, and a second parish community, also named in honor of Saint Felix, outgrew its space, leading to the current Saint Mary Catholic Church, constructed in 1954.
One hundred and twenty-one years later, Saint Mary Catholic Church and School are still going strong, as Oct. 8 proved. The event began as soon as the 5 p.m. Mass ended. Volunteers helped set up for the Fall Fest that morning, with continued logistics and planning throughout the day leading up to the event. Those leaving Mass that evening, and all those who attended, were treated to a variety of activities and foods, ranging from grilled hotdogs and hamburgers to kids’ games and activities, including bounce houses. The Ponca City High School FFA provided a petting zoo and local radio host Sean Roberts, of KLOR, broadcasted throughout the event.
There was a silent auction with all proceeds going to support the school, and $13,000 was raised through raffle tickets sales alone. The Fall Fest is a fundraiser for the school through the Parent Teacher Conference, and all proceeds go toward the school.
“The money is being used by the PTC to fund continuing education for teachers, professional development, school supplies for teachers and school supplies for children, as well,” Father Krittenbrink explained. “They are the parents helping the teachers in the school, anything they need to teach.”
The event has been held for many decades, but it was the first Fall Fest in several years due to illness in the community.
“We haven’t held it since 2020 because of COVID-19, and in 2021, there was a spike in cases. Lots of people were getting sick and going to the hospital again, and we decided to pull it for another year,” Father Krittenbrink said.
Saint Mary Catholic School educates students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, and boasts a total student body of 103. Also attending the school are several Newkirk students who are members of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. The student-teacher ratio is such that students can have more one-on-one interaction with their educators.
Like their peers in public schools, they learn from a standard curriculum of reading, math and science, but have the unique ability to experience a spiritual education not available in public schools.
“I think Catholic education not only turns out brilliant minds, but also future saints,” Father Krittenbrink proudly explained. “The mission of Catholic schools is to get people to heaven.”
Wade Laffey is principal of the school and sees first-hand how important Catholic education is.
“Catholic schools are about the values you want to give to your child,” Laffey said.
While Saint Mary Catholic School is part of the larger parish, many of the students, and even staff, do not have a Catholic background, as they welcome everyone in the community.
“We welcome everyone. You don’t have to be Catholic to attend school at Saint Mary,” Father Krittenbrink said. “Catholic schools focus on forming the whole person – body, mind and soul. Catholic schools exist to help the child know, love and serve God so they can be happy in this life, and supremely happy in the next.”
Everett Brazil, III is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
