by Catherine Halmbaier
Special to The Leaven
GOLDEN, Colorado — Nothing is impossible with prayer.
On this year’s annual seventh grade trip to the Mother Cabrini Shrine near Denver, a group from St. John School in Lawrence saw the power of prayer in action. Through a chance encounter with author Patrick Dillon, the group was moved to pray for the victims of the recent Annunciation School shooting in Minneapolis. What happened next took everyone by surprise.
LeeAnn Hartwick, middle school math teacher and longtime sponsor of the annual trip, described the moment that a man approached the group.
“The kids were just out looking at the shrine . . . and I noticed the gentleman had come over to talk to a couple of the adults,” Hartwick said. “He was just telling us that he had written a book and how special Mother Cabrini was to him.”
The author, Patrick Dillon, asked if he could film the group in prayer.
“He asked if he could film us praying a rosary, which we always do at the top of the mountain, at the Sacred Heart statue,” Hartwick said. “But he wanted to do it as a prayer for the school in Minneapolis — Annunciation.”
On Aug. 27, a tragic shooting took the lives of two students at Annunciation School. Twenty-six more students were injured.
Dillon told Hartwick that he had been in regular contact with the Minnesota school since the shooting, promising prayers. As students and chaperones climbed 360 steps to the mountaintop, Dillon’s drone captured the footage.
“[Dillon] had given us the names of the children who died . . . and the one who was still in the hospital,” said Lauren Yoshinobu, school counselor and another longtime sponsor of the trip. The group prayed for each victim by name.
This made it all the more surprising when, shortly afterwards, it was announced that the final hospitalized victim had been released.
“The reality is that prayer has an impact on people’s lives,” Yoshinobu said. “Whether it is for this young woman who was able to get out of the hospital, or for ourselves for being able to lift her up.”
Neither the group nor Dillon knew that Sophia Forchas was slated to be released from the hospital when they met. After what seemed like a direct answer to their prayers, Yoshinobu and Hartwick reflected on what, to an outsider, might seem like a lucky coincidence.
“The timing was coincidental, but just the power of prayer . . . helped to draw our students into the process of understanding,” Hartwick said.
“We were praying for all victims of all shootings and the future of Catholic schools,” she continued. “Bottom line is: The power of prayer will help get us get through these things.”
The prayers served as more than intercession. Yoshinobu explained that praying for others connected students and chaperones to something greater than themselves.
“That does something for our area as well,” she said. “And gives us a connection to some people who are suffering and hurting around the world. It’s just such a powerful tool.”
Yoshinobu reflected that the experience was enriching for students in unexpected ways.
“Children connect with a deeper part of themselves that sometimes they’re not even aware of,” she said. “It is interesting to see kids who are full of energy, and yet when they’ve learned to pray, they can really go to a deeper place and it’s wonderful to see.”
This is the second time Mother Cabrini has introduced the St. John group to an unexpected adventure. Last year’s group ran into Cristiana Dell’Anna, the actress who portrayed Mother Cabrini in the 2024 film.
“Mother Cabrini is interceding for us,” Hartwick said. “And she is there. She is making things happen. That helps the kids to see that going to a holy site like that can make a difference in their lives.”
