Catholic Schools Week

Hundreds of our students are fortunate to have the opportunity to attend Catholic schools each year in our diocese under the guidance of many dedicated men and women who continue to carry on the mission that was begun so many years ago by sisters from many religious orders and congregations. I have visited each of the schools in the diocese several times over the years and can say that the schools -- the pastors, principals, teachers, secretaries and other staff -- do truly demonstrate the theme of faith in every student.

St. Augustine said, "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe" and Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase." Both of these men recognized that faith, something that is often difficult to understand because we cannot see it directly, is nonetheless an important part of our spiritual lives. I would liken this staircase to the stewardship journey where we continue to move ever forward toward by continually strengthening our relationship with God.

The Catholic schools continue to play an important role in the effort to educate our people about the stewardship message. The students are very involved in the stewardship of their gifts of time and talents, especially, as they assist with many of the ministries of their parish. I am reminded of the many community service projects that the children participate in and the many trips to the nursing homes to visit and to entertain the residents, just to name a few. The parents of these students, too, demonstrate their willingness to participate as stewards by volunteering in the classrooms, as coaches, with maintenance and upkeep of the facilities, and through their tireless efforts at fund-raising activities to provide the necessary financial support needed to support the Catholic schools.

Have you ever noticed the number of comedians who relate Catholic school experiences as a part of their comedy routine? I sometimes question the honesty of their experiences and believe they have chosen to take great liberty with their experiences for the sake of a laugh, but I can say that I’ve not met many people who don’t speak positively about their Catholic school experience. This week is intended to not only celebrate our present Catholic schools, but I believe it is also an opportunity for many past students to celebrate the years of faith formation that have influenced their lives.