Overbrook Catholic School welcomed back one of its own on Friday, February 27, as alumnus Father David Lee ‘06 returned to campus to lead the school’s annual Faith Rally, nearly twenty years after graduating from OCS himself. The event, originally scheduled for Catholic Schools Week and rescheduled due to a winter ice storm, served as a powerful witness to the lasting impact of Catholic education and the fruit of a faith-centered formation. 

Fr. Lee led students, faculty, and families through a day of prayer, reflection, and worship focused on Overbrook Catholic’s school-year theme: “Your faith and hope are centered in God” (1 Peter 1:21). His return was especially meaningful as he was welcomed back by the same principal who led the school during his time as a student, Sister Marie Blanchette Cummings, O.P., highlighting a unique and beautiful continuity within the OCS community. 

Throughout the day, students participated in a series of activities designed to help them live out the theme in practical ways. Students were grouped into multi-age “Faith Families,” allowing older and younger students to pray, learn, and serve together. Sixth-grade students took on leadership roles, guiding their Faith Families through the day’s activities and modeling what it means to grow in faith and responsibility. 

As part of the rally, sixth-grade students also presented reflections on the lives of Saint Tarcisius and Saint Clare of Assisi, two saints known for their profound devotion to Christ in the Eucharist. Their presentations invited fellow students to consider how courage, trust in God, and love for the Eucharist can shape everyday life. Faith Families also created chaplets together, giving students a tangible reminder of prayer that they could take home and incorporate into their daily routines. 

In his homily, Fr. Lee encouraged students to embrace a posture of daily surrender, offering a prayer he attributed to Sister Marie Blanchette: “Lord, show me how to live my life today and every day.” He emphasized that holiness is not reserved for extraordinary moments, but is lived out in ordinary, faithful obedience to God’s will. 

Fr. Lee also invited students to reflect on the inherent dignity of every person, posing a question that resonated deeply throughout the day: “How would you treat the person next to you if you knew they were a prince or princess?” He connected this image to Jesus’ office as King, reminding students that every person belongs to the Kingdom of God and should be treated with the honor and reverence due to his or her identity as a son or daughter of the King. The message echoed a core principle of Overbrook Catholic School’s formation, which emphasizes the dignity of the human person both in and out of the classroom. 

The Faith Rally included opportunities for students and parents to participate in the sacramental life of the Church, with Mass, Eucharistic Exposition, Adoration, and Benediction woven throughout the day. These moments invited the school community to encounter Christ personally and to anchor their faith and hope in His real presence in the Eucharist. 

Fr. Lee’s presence served as a powerful testament to the role Catholic education plays in nurturing vocations and forming lifelong disciples. As a former OCS student now serving the Church as a priest, his journey offered students a living example of how God continues to work through the seeds planted during their years of formation. Students were given the opportunity to ask Fr. Lee any question that came to mind, as he answered, “What sports did you play at OCS?”, “What is your favorite thing about being a priest?”, and “Why was Jesus a priest in the order of Melchizedek and not Levi?”. 

“It was a joy to have Fr. Lee celebrate Mass and lead us in prayer during our Faith Rally, especially since he would have remembered the Faith Rally from his time as a student. I love having alumni return to Overbrook but welcoming an alumnus who is a priest was extra special. We promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life to our students, but that day I wondered how the students felt knowing that the priest celebrating Mass sat in the same desks and attended Mass in the same gym. Perhaps one student thought that maybe he could be a priest too," Sister Marie Blanchette shared. 

Despite the challenges posed by winter weather, OCS’s commitment to faith formation remained strong. The rescheduled rally stood as a reminder that faith is not easily deterred and that hope remains firmly rooted in God, even amid disruption. 

Overbrook Catholic School remains dedicated to forming students academically, spiritually, and morally, preparing them not only for future success, but for a life lived in truth, service, and love of Christ. As students returned to their classrooms following the Faith Rally, they carried with them a renewed call to live their faith intentionally, centering their faith and hope in God alone. 

To watch a video recap of the day, including music by PJ Anderson and the OCS Community, click here.