Rose Mary and Natalie Schira

Natalie, who lives in Dubuque and teaches English for Homeschool Connections and Bridgeway Academy,  describes her upbringing enthusiastically, giving credit to her mom for teaching her to love God with all her heart. “From the time I can remember, we prayed together,” says Natalie. “There are videos of tiny little me, and Mom is making the Sign of the Cross and teaching one-year-old me how to make the Sign of the Cross.” 

Natalie remembers preparing for her First Communion, how the things she learned in school were reinforced at home. “We did great things in class, but we talked at home about what a special thing (the Eucharist) was.” Natalie learned from her mother to love and respect the Eucharist and to feel a sense of awe in the presence of Jesus.

These days, despite the miles that separate them, Rose Mary and Natalie still get together as often as they can, and their love for the Eucharist keeps them connected. One of their favorite activities is attending Mass together. You may have seen them here at Sacred Heart; they tend to sit near the back, and when they exit the pew for Communion, Rose Mary walks behind Natalie with her hands resting gently on her daughter’s shoulders, guiding her forward to receive the Eucharist. 

Natalie, who was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma as an infant, explains that this method works beautifully for her and her mom, but it should not be considered correct guiding technique. Normally she would take the arm of a sighted person and follow them from behind, a position that gives her more control. But with her mom, Natalie says, “It’s a whole different universe.”

She wouldn’t let anyone else guide her in this unconventional way, but when approaching the altar with her mother, Natalie embraces the unconventional with complete trust. Together they walk forward with a smoothness that comes from years of practice, and Rose Mary admits she can’t remember a time when her daughter ever walked behind her on their way to Communion. “I’m bringing her to Jesus,” she explains, “and that’s why she’s in front of me. She’s my daughter, and I’m going to try to guide her straight to where she needs to be.”

It’s a reminder of the responsibility all parents have. Each time Rose Mary and Natalie attend Mass together, they set out on a graceful—and grace-filled—journey toward the Eucharist. Their “choreography” may break a few rules, but to them it feels like the most natural thing in the world: a mother guiding her child to Jesus, a daughter being guided, and a loving Savior waiting eagerly to greet them.