While visiting St. Joseph’s School in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, for a special broadcast of Go Ask Your FatherTM, Archbishop Bernard Hebda had fun answering some excellent questions from the students at the school. He also turned some of the questions around to the students, asking them about their faith and experience at Catholic School. One such conversation was with a young woman named Marta.
“I know that there’s a great arts program here … and that you recently performed the musical, Mary Poppins,” said Archbishop Hebda. “So tell me this, Marta, what was your favorite part of Mary Poppins?”
“In Mary Poppins, I was the daughter, Jane Banks. And my favorite part was when we did the song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” said Marta. “It was really upbeat and when we were practicing for that part, there were a lot of close connections and friendships made.”
The archbishop asked her what she learned from doing something like a play. “You learn how to use a lot of teamwork to help put on a performance and it just helps show you different kinds of people and different connections you can make.”
The arts have a special place in the history of the Church. “Often when I’m confirming,” said the archbishop, “there’s always a confirmation name. And I find many students who choose St. Genesius who is the patrons saint of those in theatre. Did you pray before you performed?”
“I did, yes.”
“Great, just checking,” chuckled Archbishop Hebda.
Emcee of the event and Relevant Radio® show host Glen Lewerenz jumped in to ask, “Marta, before you go, I have a question to ask. Could you spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?” The audience, laughed, knowing it was a request made in jest.
“Oh, I can!” replied Marta, to everyone’s surprise. “S-U-P-E-R-C-A-L-I-F-R-A-G-I-L-I-S-T-I-C-E-X-P-I-A-L-I-D-O-C-I-O-U-S.”
To find out more, read about the special broadcast or listen to the full podcast.
