Bishop Robert Deeley visited with students at St. James School in Biddeford on Feb. 15. Courtesy photo

BIDDEFORD — “Listen to God and that will lead you to happiness.”

These words of Bishop Robert Deeley fell upon a captive audience of middle schoolers at St. James School in Biddeford on Feb 15, part of a special trip by the bishop to visit with students and staff.

“What’s a life lesson we should take with us?” asked one eighth grader.

“Love God and love one another,” the bishop told her and her classmates. “Try to make the world a better place by making the lives of those around you better by your caring.”

These moments dotted a morning of music, merriment, and mirth as the bishop stopped by the classrooms of St. James, enjoying the artistic creations of the fourth graders, being treated to the kindergarteners’ rendition of the “Thankful Song,” enjoying a “Reader’s Theater” on the creation story in first grade, and reading “Where Do Angels Sleep?” to the pre-kindergarteners.

“Where are the angels?” the bishop said to the children. “They’re all around us. This book reminds us that God always loves us.”

A religious-themed game of “Jeopardy!” awaited the bishop in fifth grade, a French matching game was the order of the day in grade two, and the third graders shared lessons on the saints and character traits that make the saints good role models.

In his visits with the older students, the bishop told them to think about what it could be that God is asking them to do with their lives.

“God puts a call in each of us, a stirring in our hearts,” said Bishop Deeley. “Vocations are not just to the priesthood. Pray on what your vocation is, what your calling is, and God will help you do it.”

During his visit, Bishop Deeley shared lunch with the school’s student council and took in a rehearsal of portions of the school’s upcoming musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Joining the bishop on the tour of St. James was Fr. Timothy Nadeau, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish of which St. James is a part; Marianne Pelletier, superintendent of Maine Catholic Schools; and Nancy Naimey, principal of St. James.