Moments at the Mount

Lessons of Faith and formation at The Mount

With the start of a new year and a full semester of high school experience now behind all four Mount St. Mary classes, it is an opportune time to gather student reflections on the blessings of a Catholic education.

Gabriel Homeyer, Class of 2028
 With nearly a decade of student experiences within Catholic schools, freshman Gabriel   Homeyer said he considers Mount St. Mary a second home.

 Reflecting on his parents' belief in the importance of Catholic education, he highlighted   the centrality of the sacraments, noting their similarity to being a “lifeline” for people of   faith, particularly the Eucharist.

“Encountering God through the sacraments is the greatest gift,” he said. Comparing his experience with peers in public schools, he said, “They focus solely on academics, while Catholic education pushes us to strive for both academic excellence and sainthood.

“From day one, I felt genuinely welcomed (here). Mount St. Mary is one of the most supportive communities I’ve ever known.”

Lily Fairchild, Class of 2027
 For sophomore Lily Fairchild, high school started as an intimidating experience. An   introvert, she felt isolated without her friends from Saint Philip Neri Catholic School, not   sharing any Mount classes with them. However, Deacon Robert Dunlap’s   encouragement in her freshman theology class helped her find her voice.

 “I realized that Catholic schools aren’t afraid to let individuals speak their mind,” she   said.  “It’s heavily encouraged.”

Deacon Dunlap’s lessons continue to resonate with her: “If you care for your soul like good soil, it will flourish with God’s love.”

Now, she has found friends, old and new, within Mount St. Mary. They, she said, “foster a sense of community where I can simply be myself through truly practicing my faith within a school setting without fear of judgement or ridicule.” 

Quyen Tran, Class of 2026
 Originally a native of Vietnam, Quyen Tran has only lived in Oklahoma for about six   months. While her time at the Mount has been short compared to her fellow juniors,   she said she is most grateful for the communal love and support she has quickly 
 found on campus.

 “In my home country, public schools dominate in quantity and quality,” she said.   “Students travel to different parts of the city throughout the day to attend class, so   the idea of going to school with the same people in the same building every day has been such a fun thing to experience for the first time.

“Here, faith connects us."

She said back in Vietnam, the only option for Catholic children to learn theology is religious education classes and to join the Eucharistic Youth Movement, since school hours are devoted to other academics.

“In my short experience, Catholic education has proven to be an investment not only in knowledge, but also of character and a meaningful future,” she said.

Maggie Brown, Class of 2025
 Senior Maggie Brown has always been a champion student and an even stronger     athlete, devoting much of her time outside of classes to competitive tennis. She   said she’s particularly grateful for the Mount’s academic opportunities.

 “I’ll graduate in May with about 34 college credits, which essentially means I’ll begin   college as a sophomore,” she said.

Brown shared a vivid memory of taking the ACT at a public high school last year.

“The absence of crucifixes and Bibles stood out to me immediately,” she said.

Brown praised the deeply Catholic environment which can be found within Mount St. Mary’s walls.

“Father Jerome Krug, our chaplain, is so approachable. We bonded over our shared experience of knee surgery, which made his homilies even more relatable at times,” she said. “Catholic education is a treasure that many on the outside may not fully understand, but it is undeniably one of the best paths a parent can choose for their child’s education.”

Emma Bowman is a senior at Mount St. Mary Catholic High School.