The sisters were out of sight, but not out of mind.
The third grade students at St. Louis School in Alexandria agreed to participate in King Arthur Baking Company’s “Bake for Good” outreach program, in which the company donates baking supplies to students who agree to bake two loaves of bread: one to keep and one to give away. But to whom?
Quickly, the answer came: the cloistered sisters of the Poor Clare Monastery of Mary, Mother of the Church, barely a half-mile down the road from the school and parish. The sisters embrace poverty and rely on the charity of others to supply most material needs. While lay Catholics are welcome to attend daily morning Mass in the covent’s chapel, visitors are unlikely to catch more than a glimpse of the sisters behind the iron grillwork separating the public and private spaces.
A King Arthur representative visited the school March 17 to provide a demonstration on baking bread. The next two days, students mixed, kneaded, baked, and packaged loaves of bread for delivery, with the help of school teachers, staff and a handful of parent volunteers.
Catherine Douthit, teacher, said the students quickly learned how to tell a cup from a tablespoon, and to appreciate how subjects such as math and science make up baking.
“We are so excited to be doing this project and to be able to give back to those who help us so much,” she said.
“We’re making bread. It’s fun,” said third grader Peter Albert. “We’re actually making bread for the Poor Clares who live down the street. We’re doing this at school as a service project.”
Colleen Donnelly, a parent volunteer, enjoyed being with dozens of young bakers, and took in the scene. “This is not my kitchen, so it’s a lot of fun,” she said with a laugh.
The effort coincided with the day more than 800 years ago when a teenage Italian girl, deeply influenced by St. Francis of Assisi, professed her vows to religious life before the legendary saint. Thus, St. Clare of Assisi established the Poor Clares religious order March 18, 1212, dedicated to contemplative prayer life in communion with God.
