Family Spotlight – The Bonton Family

My mother converted to Catholicism before marrying my father in the Catholic Church. Sacred Heart of Jesus became my church home as an infant. Sacred Heart has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was baptized at Sacred Heart and later received the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation at Sacred Heart. Our weekly Sacred Heart journey began in the pews on the left side of the church on Sunday mornings and ended when the bell dismissed us from Catechism. One of my favorite memories as a child is attending Christmas Mass. I loved it so much because my Mother did. The church was decorated beautifully, enhancing the warmth and holiness of the Christmas season.

Today, as a 44-year-old wife and mother of three exceptional children, the Sacred Heart Community remains a critical part of my life. The community continues to enrich me today and has begun to enrich our children in ways I never imagined.

Although I did not attend Sacred Heart School, my husband Darius, and I decided early on that our children would. Sacred Heart School was the only school that interested us. We had a multitude of reasons for choosing Sacred Heart. We wanted more than just a good education, we also wanted a nurturing and caring environment that recognized each of our children for whom they are. At the age of five, our daughter, Ryan, began Kindergarten. Four years later, her little sister, Sadie Grace, joined the ranks, and Harrison began Pre-K in August.

I attended South Boulevard Elementary School, which I adored. From walking through the halls of the old elementary school buildings, while being taught by teachers who knew my mom and were candid with her regarding my challenges and successes, to the milk carton gingerbread houses we made at Christmas time, remind me of how special my little school was for me as a young child. Sacred Heart School, reminds me so much of South Boulevard. If Sacred Heart leaves half the impression that South Boulevard left on me, I will know we made the right decision for our little ones. Remarkable is the best way that I can describe Sacred Heart School!

The Sacred Heart community has provided a place for our family free of judgment and worry, and full of growth, support, and love. It gives us a place to voice and share our concerns and an opportunity to participate in the solution. Being part of Sacred Heart community inspires our family to do more because of the example our leadership sets. I see God at work in this community, demonstrated by the impact on the individual and the whole. As an adult, my involvement with Sacred Heart has strengthened my spirituality and shown me that along with knowing God’s presence, it is how knowing God influences everything I do and how I interact with others in society.

While all our children currently attend Sacred Heart School, I am sure they will each experience it differently. One thing does seem true: they are all learning to be good, compassionate people. My favorite Sacred Heart moments are those when I experience the students’ interactions with school staff and administration during school assemblies. Whether it’s during a sporting event or pep rally, witnessing them having fun and supporting each other warms my heart. The Sacred Heart community is one with a heart of gold. It is demonstrated in the children they are forming every day.