Dedicated to Rose

Anyone who has been around Notre Dame Catholic School will often sight community as one of our many strengths. This has never been more evident than in the last three months as we have experienced the illness and death of our sixth grader Rose Vu. When you have been a part of a nurturing community in such a difficult time it truly is faith and the care for one another that have supported us through this difficult journey.

Our strongest supporters have been Rose and her family. How incredibly blessed this entire community was when Rose and her brother Dominic came to Notre Dame in 2008. Rose was in third grade at the time and was finishing her last round of chemotherapy from her second occurrence of leukemia. Rose had over three healthy years with us before becoming ill in October and being diagnosed with brain cancer on November 3, 2011.

Rose was a pillar of strength and her love for God inspired all of us. She never complained and shouldered the cross given to her with acceptance and love. There was never a “why me” as she placed her life and death in God’s hands, helping all of us to accept that this was His plan. If God asked all of us to become saints, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind, who were touched by Rose, that she is a model for true sainthood.

We are grateful to Rose’s family for their willingness to share Rose with all of us. Our faith has grown and deepened because of this precious, twelve year old child.

The outpouring of love from the other Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Denver has also shown us a nurturing community. Though Rose never played basketball, her classmates and other teams prayed for her before every game, and her classmates wore a rose to honor her. After Rose’s death the cards, flowers, cupcakes and memorials from other schools have meant a great deal to the entire school community.

Many people have asked what more they can do, and as Rose loved God, she loved school and Notre Dame, so Notre Dame School is establishing a Rose Vu Scholarship to honor her. Our hope is to give half tuition to one child each year, for years to come. We want everyone to remember what a holy, special child graced our school and our lives and to honor her family with this scholarship.

If you would like to contribute to the Rose Vu Scholarship please make checks payable to Notre Dame Catholic School, specify the scholarship fund and mail to: Rose Vu Scholarship, 2165 S. Zenobia Street, Denver, CO 80219.