By David Eck

SIDNEY DEANERY — Jill O’Leary has been part of Holy Angels School for about a third of the Sidney grade school’s 150-year existence.

She and her husband, Jim, were students there, and they both became Holy Angels teachers. Their six children went to Holy Angels and today, Jill O’Leary teaches one of her grandchildren, Kaitrin O’Leary, at the school.

Jim O’Leary’s parents were also alumni.

"We have an investment in this school unlike many others," Jill O’Leary said. "We have a lot invested, heart, mind and soul. We actually have four generations."

To celebrate its sesquicentennial the school held a large public reception April 13. The event featured entertainment from the various grades, an open house and a proclamation from the Sidney mayor’s office. There was also a reunion of graduates, former teachers, nuns and priests who have been associated with the school over the years.

"We invited all the past graduates," said Halver Belcher, Holy Angels principal. "We invited all the priests and Sisters who have ever served the parish in any way."

In a second event, Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk will celebrate a Mass on May 1 at 10 a.m.

The school is collecting comments from alumni about their years at Holy Angels, and posts the memories on the school’s web site. .

"The fondest memories I have are of the nuns," O’Leary said. "We had three priests at the time, and they were a part of your daily life.’’

She is grateful to be able to practice and share the faith in the school.

"It’s just strengthened my faith and my life to have been raised Catholic and having gone through the school," she said. "I always think of the blessing of having had the religious education and the opportunity to have gone to Mass. We went to Mass every day."

The school was formed about a decade after Holy Angels Parish was founded. It is a key part of the parish, as it helps develop the parish’s internal leadership.

"I think it totally shows the parish’s continued support since its founding for Catholic education," Belcher said. "It just means a total commitment on the part of the parish to provide quality Catholic education for these kids."

Parents, faculty and staff also help keep the school vibrant.

"We just have always valued Catholic education and instilled that in our children," O’Leary said. "I think they value their faith."