Our Catholic schools are one of the most treasured gifts from God. We must remember that they are God's, not ours. We are stewards, not owners. May God help me, in my current assignment as pastor of Star of the Sea parish and school, to be a good steward of his gifts.
On Wednesday I met with a group of concerned school parents. Their concerns are generally the same as those addressed to Archbishop Cordileone last week regarding his own Archdiocesan high schools. "What is your vision for our school?" the parents asked me. "Will you continue to be inclusive?" My response is yes, we will continue to welcome all who want a Catholic education. What is a "Catholic education?" My response to that question is simply to quote Archbishop Cordileone's statement last week regarding the high schools: "Catholic schools exist to affirm and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as held and taught by his Catholic Church." All the other goods of a Catholic education--math and science scores, sports programs, social values, parent community, a safe environment--all flow from that essential purpose. To the degree that we back away from proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ as held and taught by his Catholic Church, all the other excellent qualities of a Catholic education decline. The public schools have largely distanced themselves from Judeo-Christian principles and have become troubled institutions as a result. Many want the "safe environment" and higher academic standards of Catholic schools without the Gospel, but these are inseparable. That is why my mandate from the Archbishop is to keep our school in line with its mission, which could not be better articulated than by our Archbishop in the statement above.
On Wednesday I met with a group of concerned school parents. Their concerns are generally the same as those addressed to Archbishop Cordileone last week regarding his own Archdiocesan high schools. "What is your vision for our school?" the parents asked me. "Will you continue to be inclusive?" My response is yes, we will continue to welcome all who want a Catholic education. What is a "Catholic education?" My response to that question is simply to quote Archbishop Cordileone's statement last week regarding the high schools: "Catholic schools exist to affirm and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as held and taught by his Catholic Church." All the other goods of a Catholic education--math and science scores, sports programs, social values, parent community, a safe environment--all flow from that essential purpose. To the degree that we back away from proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ as held and taught by his Catholic Church, all the other excellent qualities of a Catholic education decline. The public schools have largely distanced themselves from Judeo-Christian principles and have become troubled institutions as a result. Many want the "safe environment" and higher academic standards of Catholic schools without the Gospel, but these are inseparable. That is why my mandate from the Archbishop is to keep our school in line with its mission, which could not be better articulated than by our Archbishop in the statement above.
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