The religious education class at St. Philip Parish in Philipsburg – three of them this year – has raised enough money to help two students at the Diocese of Helena’s mission in Guatemala to attend school.

Bryan Bolstad, Steffani Linn and Zach Waldbillig have been receiving a classic Catholic education with an emphasis on social justice in the Catholic Church from Susan and Gary Sundstrom.

“Being a rural community, our students have had very little exposure to the world outside Montana, especially true poverty,” Susan Sundstrom explained. “Gary and I wanted them to learn about the big glorious Catholic Church outside our little church community. The Church that helps people everywhere.”

The two teachers told their students about the mission and the many young Guatemalans who wouldn’t have an education if it weren’t for Father Jim Hazelton, a teacher before he became a priest.

Because of the Diocese of Helena’s connection to a Guatemalan mission, the Central American students seemed like a good match, she said.

The Philipsburg students were involved in the decision making and chose one boy and one girl, both boarding students. “Our kids definitely wanted boarding students. They could identify with having to go long distances as part of daily life,” Susan Sundstrom said.

They had a parish auction in the spring of 2007, doing most of the work themselves, and the support was incredible, she added. They will probably organize a third auction next spring.


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 24, No. 12, December 19, 2008.