Photo Caption: Connor Simmons, Taylor White, Victoria Espinosa, Rachel Gager, and Michael Meister of St. Edward’s School in Chillicothe are pictured at the Sept. 12 Catholic Schools Mass in Peoria.

By: By Jennifer Willems

Seeing every inch of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria filled with Catholic school students from around the diocese made Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, happy.

During the Catholic Schools Mass on Sept. 12 he shared the secret to everlasting happiness with the students.

“Jesus teaches you and me today that what will really make us happy is to do good for other people — to be kind, to be merciful, to be ready to make things better not worse,” Bishop Jenky said in his homily, which he gave from the steps of the sanctuary.

“That is the way God designed us and when we act that way we are happy. We are blessed. We are filled with joy,” he told the young people, referring to Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mount. “Jesus is the best example of someone who lived those Beatitudes.”

Bishop Jenky explained that if we truly know and love Jesus nothing can take away our joy in the end.

As they embark on a new school year, he urged them to let Jesus be “the greatest teacher you have.”

“Trust him and know Beatitude happiness now and get ready for unbelievable Beatitude happiness in heaven,” Bishop Jenky said.

Demonstrating that they were willing to share their joy, the students applauded when Kara Kamienski and her daughter, Sophie, of St. Patrick’s Parish in Washington presented gifts to the bishop for his 10th anniversary as the spiritual leader of the Diocese of Peoria. Not only was there a blanket containing images of his ministry in central Illinois, but he also received dog treats for Vicar and Monsignor, his beloved Chihuahuas.

In a break from tradition, Bishop Jenky did not stand outside to greet the students, teachers and principals as they boarded their buses for home. Instead, he returned to the sanctuary for group photos “as long as his smile muscles hold out.”

He also signed autographs on the worship aids proffered by some of the youngest members of his flock.