By Fr. James Caime
Sara Noreña was born and raised in Kansas City but was baptized at San Francisco de Assisi parish near her mother’s family home, a town near Mexico City. Her mother, Lupe, and her Aunt Amalia made sure Sara knew her family in Mexico – including her grandmother, her cousin and her godmother who were all Third Order Franciscans. She feels that she is “following in their footsteps” with her devotion to prayer and service.
After Sara received the sacraments of first communion and confirmation at Visitation Church (and ALSO at San Francisco de Assisi in Mexico!), the family moved closer to SFX and began attending Mass there. Sara says, “We found our church family.”
She began volunteering at SFX as a front office volunteer. As an early childhood teacher, she was soon pressed into service as a teacher for our Sunday School for ages 2-4 and is a regular co-leader of Children’s Liturgy of the Word for ages 5-10, keeping a kind eye on the children. She is also the staff go-to person for the Christmas Eve Family Mass, the Easter Vigil reception, and the annual Easter Egg Hunt.
She was part of the teaching team that worked with the migrant community in Lexington, Kansas, and continues her volunteer work with the Refugees, Immigrants, Migrants Group. She most recently started volunteering with the Social Committee, helping plan and work events like the Fall Festival.
Sara was humbled and grateful to be named for this award and says, “I’m only doing what I feel like God wants me to do.”