School releases 75 foot balloon rosary to celebrate its 'Saintennial'

By Jim Warren - jwarren@herald-leader.com

Updated October 25, 2013 5:59 AM

8-year-old 3rd grader Kylie Stephenson, front, and 11-year-old 6th grader, Ethan Elbert, back, held a cross during a public rosary in Triangle Park in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, October 24, 2013. Sts. Peter & Paul students (K-8) led by Bishop Ronald Gainer and members of the Knights of Columbus, marched in a rosary procession from the school to Triangle Park in a celebration marking their 100 years as a Catholic school. At the end of the procession, a 75 foot rosary made of balloons was released from the middle of the park. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff Herald-Leader

Sts. Peter & Paul Regional Catholic School celebrated its 100th anniversary, or "Saintennial," on Thursday by releasing a 75-foot "balloon rosary" from Triangle Park in downtown Lexington.

The Most Rev. Ronald Gainer, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, led students, staffers and residents in a public recitation of the rosary, after which the rosary made of helium-filled balloons floated skyward.

There were 59 yellow and blue balloons, one for each bead in the rosary, and a cross that was made by students. The event was part of a year-long observance of the school's founding on Short Street in 1913.

"The balloons could have gone in any direction," school president Jeanne Miller said. "But they floated up and passed right over the school."

This story was originally published October 24, 2013 at 4:12 PM with the headline "School releases 75 foot balloon rosary to celebrate its 'Saintennial'."

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