By Sandra Burch
The Catholic Weekly
SAGINAW — St. Joseph Parish on Sixth Street in Saginaw celebrated its 83rd Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe this year.
The novena ran Saturday through Sunday, Dec. 4-12. Each night a different group of people processed in and another hosted the social afterwards.
Tuesday, Dec. 7, was Youth Night. Christina Gayton, pastoral minister at St. Joseph, had the kindergarten-through-sixth grade faith formation students use American Sign Language to the songs “Gentle Woman,” the Gospel Acclamation and “Give Us Your Peace.” The children also used hand motions for the closing song of “Lord I Lift your Name on High.” The grade 7-12 students assisted in the singing of the songs.
“Sign language,” Gayton said, “is a positive way for the children to express themselves.”
She also said the parish is very supportive of the youth.
Pauline Capp, however, felt the opposite was true.
“What the children had in them today,” said the St. Joseph parishioner, “really lifted me up.”