Dear Saints,

Today marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. We’re planning a number of festivities to mark the occasion, including our Open House (to which you’re invited!) and Mass with the Bishop on Tuesday.

But in another sense, this week is just seven more days for our educational ministry to serve families in the “schooling” season of life. Much like this week is seven more days for our sacrament prep ministries to serve couples in the “marriage and baby” season of life; seven more days for our outreach ministries to serve those in material need; seven more days for our accompaniment ministries to serve those in crisis.

One of the most beautiful aspects of our educational ministry is its interwovenness with everything else. Done right, education is the process of becoming oneself in every facet of being - mind, body, heart, and soul. In other words, if we’re serving our students properly, they are in the process of becoming the Church of tomorrow. They will be leading the marriage prep class. They will be coordinating the driving ministry so homebound parishioners can make it to Mass. They will be walking with others in time of grief or family breakdown. They will bring forgiveness to injury, faith to doubt, and love to hate. They will be the peacemakers, the pure of heart, and the justice-cravers. And yes, some of them will become teachers in our school, so that the light of the world may shine ever brighter in tomorrow’s tomorrow.

Christ’s Peace,

Father Daniel

δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ