Birthday parades seem to be popping up every week these days, but this one was an extra special one.
On Monday evening, a parade of cars of cars honoring Sister Katherine Ann Rappl streamed through the St. Rita parking lot, offering gratitude and 80th birthday wishes to the school’s former principal.
It was a complete surprise for Sister Rappl, who clearly enjoyed the parade, which numbered about 140 cars. Thank you so much to Julie Schillaci for passing along the included here.
Julie also sent this write-up about the school’s beloved former principal:
No matter how many years pass, alumni of St. Rita School in Webster will always be “God drops” to Sister of Mercy Katherine Ann Rappl.
Exceptional students at the school are recognized with this honorary designation and receive raindrop-shaped sun catchers to hang in their windows to remind them 
of how they capture God’s love.
The phrase “God drops” was one that Sister Rappl picked up during a National Catholic Educational Association Conference workshop years ago
“A raindrop is fully made up of what a cloud is made up of,” she always said, noting that people are God drops because they are made up of the same substance as God. God’s life is inextricably intertwined with their lives, she said.
And for the past 30 years, the lives of the students at St. Rita School have been intertwined with Sister Rappl, who began working there as principal in 1983.
She taught at St. Andrew and St. John the Evangelist, Rochester; St. Salome, Irondequoit; St. Louis, Pittsford; and St. Patrick Junior High School and Notre Dame High School, Elmira.
Formerly known as Sister Mary Benedicta, her home parish was St. Thomas the Apostle in Irondequoit, and she attended the parish school. She said the Sisters of Mercy who taught her at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Brighton were very influential in her discerning her vocation, and she became a Sister of Mercy in 1958.
Sister Rappl loves being in Catholic education because she has been able to teach children both academics and their faith, and she has gotten the chance to see students grow.
“That’s a big joy in seeing how they learn to take responsibility and control of their behavior from kindergarten to sixth grade,”
And, she always points out, J.O.Y. — an acronym that stands for Jesus, others and yourself — is the school’s theme.
“I always tell students don’t let anyone take your joy away from you,” Sister Rappl received the “Lighting the Fire Award” from the Catholic School Administrators Association of New York State for her 50 years of service in Catholic education.
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You may have heard some commotion last night in the village around 7 p.m. That was yet another birthday parade, this one for Fritz Sierk, owner of The Coach Sports Bar on West Main.
This one featured not only a fire engine and other emergency vehicles, but also the WFD’s antique engine, and that huge Teamsters semi, blasting music.
Hard to tell if Fritz saw it all; he seemed to have something in his eye for part of it.
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Tags: St. Rita School, The Coach, Village of Webster
Webster Schroeder High School has a new assistant principal.
Yes, it’s still happening this year, but of course it will look a little different from years past, when it’s been held at the Webster Recreation Center, spread among several rooms.
webster on the web 