On this occasion, I would like to share my experience participating in the Saint Mary Ways activity. This activity is a school project held for 9th-grade students of Santa Maria Junior High School. The purpose of this program is for us to learn and follow the values and example of Mother Mary, especially in caring, sincerity, and serving others. When I first heard that we would be taking part in this activity, I felt very happy and excited. I knew this program would definitely give me a valuable new experience.
In this activity, we were divided into groups based on each of our churches. I was grouped with Nashya, Clo, Nathan, and Rafael. We agreed to carry out the activities at our church, GPIB Maranatha, and our main focus
was helping with Sunday school activities. In addition, other activities such as neighborhood prayers, choir, and visits to nursing homes and orphanages were also part of the program. From the beginning, I felt that this activity would be a great time to learn, serve, and strengthen teamwork with my friends.
On the first day, our group started discussing and planning the activities. We decided what needed to be prepared, how the tasks should be divided, and when each activity would take place. We also created a report as a form of responsibility to be submitted to the school and the church. The process of preparing the report and aligning our schedules was quite tiring, but we finally managed to finish it through good teamwork.
Once everything was clear, we began taking care of everything needed at the church. We also listed the equipment required for the Sunday school activities. After discussing with the service mentors, we set the activity schedule for three weeks.
The first week was the inventory activity. In this activity, my friends and I worked together with the Sunday school mentors to clean the room, organize the items, and sort the supplies that were scattered around. Even though it seemed simple, this activity was quite exhausting because we had to make sure everything was neat, clean, and ready to be used properly for the Sunday school activities.
The third week became the highlight of our activities. We taught Sunday school again, but this time we switched classes so we could experience something new. I had the opportunity to teach in the toddler–infant class. This experience was quite exhausting because children at this age are very active, easily bored, and need a very patient approach. Even so, it felt incredibly rewarding to see them laugh, join the activities, and feel happy with our presence.
After completing all the service activities, we began preparing our presentation module using Canva. We divided the tasks, collected documentation, and wrote a complete report about everything we had done. The process took time, but it was carried out with great teamwork and coordination.
Finally, the presentation day arrived. My friends and I felt nervous, but thank God, our presentation went smoothly and successfully. There were no significant obstacles, and the teachers appreciated our hard work.
As the closing activity, we created a poster together and put it on the school bulletin board as documentation and a form of reflection on the activities we had completed.
From the entire Saint Mary Ways program, I gained so many valuable lessons. I learned to become a more patient person, to care more about others, and to appreciate teamwork even more. Working with the Sunday school children also taught me that every person—especially young children—needs a loving and thoughtful approach.
This activity also strengthened the bond between my friends and me. We learned to solve problems together, cover each other’s weaknesses, and work without putting anyone down. I feel incredibly grateful to have had this experience. If given the chance, I would absolutely love to do this kind of activity again.
Saint Mary Ways was not just a regular school project—it was a journey that taught us moral values, empathy, and togetherness. This experience will always remain one of the most memorable moments of my junior high school years.


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