Ashland, Mont – Four year old preschooler Mathias tucks his braids under his ski cap, rubs his palms into the sticky orange goo and presses his handprint into the white cotton sheet.

Eleven of his fellow St. Labre Catholic Indian School classmates follow suit, pulling off their winter mittens and dipping their tiny hands into the bright yellow and orange paint.

“All week the children of St. Labre Catholic Indian School are learning about Jesus rising from the dead and celebrating our Christian faith,” preschool teacher Shelley Andres said. “Each handprint symbolizes the children’s belief in the resurrection.”

Andres and assistant teacher Judy Thomas tack up the multi-hand-printed He is Risen bed-sheet banner as part of Easter week.

St. Labre students participate in the Paschal Mission as part of a series beginning with Lent to the Pentecost. Liturgy training publications were distributed to all staff and students to encourage participation in prayer, almsgiving, rejoicing, feasting and inspiring creative customs.

“Passersby were honking and waving at the kids,” said Andres, while assembling the students for the group photo. “We had no idea how much community support we would have.”

St. Labre Catholic Indian School, founded in 1884, is a 501(c)(3), non-profit corporation serving nearly 800 Northern Cheyenne and Crow children in southeastern Montana.