Margaret Emerson: Parishioner and Assistant Preschool Teacher at Saint John Neumann (SJN) Catholic Community
Margaret Emerson
I was first introduced to the teachings of Saint Francis de Sales in 1995 when I joined Saint John Neumann (SJN) Catholic Community in Reston, VA. Since I retired from my US government work in 2018 I have been able to delve much deeper into learning and practicing Salesian Spirituality. I have done this through attending Salesian Spirituality classes taught by my fellow parishioner, Carol Swiger, and in my ministry as an Assistant Preschool Teacher in the 3 and 4-year-old classes at SJN Catholic Preschool.
Although he died four hundred years ago, I consider Saint Francis de Sales to be my guide every day. In Carol’s classes, we discussed the pillars of Salesian Spirituality: Humility, Gentleness, Kindness, and Thoughtful Concern for Others. These foundational Little Virtues are essential for me to remember as I interact with my little students and I can practice these in many ways: gently offering my hand as a child struggles with the stairs, patiently helping a child button or zip a coat, showing our kiddos multiple times how to make the Sign of the Cross when we pray, daily singing the “Washing Hands Song” for them as they forget their hand washing sequence, happily cleaning up their crumbs or spills after snack, reading a favorite book, and playing a favorite game again and again.
In addition to demonstrating these virtues to our preschoolers, I often remind them to be kind to each other and to think about what the other child might want. We have a script for sharing toys that is hard for some children to practice. And some children are used to being the only ones at home and want to have all the attention or all the toys. Gently, I talk with them about sharing and looking out for each other. I am so gratified that by the end of the school year, they can talk about ways to be kind to each other and demonstrate kindness without my prompting. This is one of the great joys of teaching and gives me hope that the seeds of Salesian Spirituality that I have planted will grow and flourish in my students’ lives so they can “bloom where they are planted.”
