Recovering Catholic Vent.

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6. You, too?

My family had five kids and couldn't afford (or maybe my parents didn't consider it) Catholic school. We lived three blocks from the church, though, and in a very Catholic neighborhood.

The families on the street with four or fewer kids sent theirs to St. Anthony's Elementary. Our family and the one with nine kids went to the public school three blocks further away. Walking home from school, we would pass St. Anthony's and the uniformed students would taunt us with calls of "public", pretty much knowing that we were Catholics because the Protestant kids all lived in the other direction away from the public school.

The year my brother won the Catechism Award for students preparing for their confirmation was the first time that a "public" had won it. The award was normally given out during a huge Mass celebration when the 2nd graders received First Holy Communion and the older kids had their Confirmation. It was a Big Deal.

The Sunday before the big May Day Mass with all the ceremonies my brother was called into the Principal's office during Sunday School. They handed him the award there in the office and that was that.