My family moved from Pennsylvania to Boston in the summer of 2007 and I joined the church that following September.

Starting as a first grader, I didn’t really know much about what CCD was. I assumed that it would be like school, but focused on faith formation. Back then, classes were not held in the off spaces in the St. Jeremiah’s basement. Higher grades attended class in the pews of the chapel, while my class was on a bench in the area that transformed into the space for socialization after mass. Our close-knit group of four students and a teacher later grew to ten students. These are some of my fondest memories of CCD- a place where I not only learned about my relationship to God, but made lasting connections with my peers.

Church has always been a second home and my family has been involved in the community since becoming members. Seeing my parents give their time to the church in different leadership roles as was a formative part of my childhood experience and taught me the need to take on responsibilities. There is something special about a group of people who all know each other and take an active role in reaching out to another. I have always been in awe of the way the community comes together to take care of families that are struggling or dealing with the loss of a loved one with food, transportation, and their mere presence. The selfless acts of giving that my parents and every adult at this parish does is truly inspirational, especially in light of the recent pandemic.

The lessons learned in CCD really extend beyond the books and classroom. When we volunteered to sing at nursing homes, designed our Gratitude Bank projects, and attended YNIA retreat, we were taught the importance of service-oriented learning. The countless opportunities to practice public speaking, acting, and dancing skills played a key role in my decision to pursue debate and a career in medicine. Attending a Jesuit Catholic university that reinforces the same ideals of 'Men and Women for Others' allows me to build upon my relationship with God that I formed in CCD. I will be forever grateful to the church for the experiences that rooted me in my faith and made me a stronger individual. In times of crisis, I know to always look towards God.

The community has naturally become so much bigger, with newer generations and members joining the family! It is so exciting to see how we went from a small group at the Waltham chapel to a full set of parishioners. What remains the same is the sense of camaraderie and togetherness that united us from the beginning.

Any student who has taken CCD at our parish will tell you that it was never just about studying the Bible. We participated in everything from Bible Month skits to speeches to musical performances to charity fundraisers to overnight retreats. There were tests to study for, presentations to prepare, and group projects to collaborate on. While there were definitely times we complained about the work, we unknowingly gained skills and made friends that would last us a lifetime. I doubt that a CCD program where I came to class, learned a few things, and left would have benefited me nearly as much as our program did. Reflecting on my experience, the most important lesson that the church imparted was the idea that community is above all.