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Archives A message from the Superintendent of Schools
Diocesan Vision and Catholic Schools Week

January 28, 2015

By Sister Ellen Rose Coughlin, SSJ
Sseruperintendent of Schools

A mutually Shared Vision, our Sacred Purpose, Diocesan Priorities – three terms that refer to the direction our diocese is following for the next five years. As I thought about Catholic Schools Week, I considered our schools’ mission and defining characteristics that link them to the diocesan vision and priorities. 

The diocesan mutually shared vision is rooted in Christ.  The vision statement begins with the words “Christ- led, Christ-fed, and hope filled.” 

Catholic schools are sacred places where students not only learn about their faith, but also encounter the living God in Jesus Christ. In this personal encounter with Christ, students become aware of their special dignity as children of God and their responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and reach out in loving service to their neighbor.

Through regular opportunities for prayer and the celebration of the sacraments especially the Eucharist they are strengthened for their journey of faith. In our schools, students are supported in their journey of faith “through the proclamation of the Gospel, the celebration of the Eucharist and the Sacraments, and the loving service of neighbor.” They are prepared to “go forth” both as students and later in life to participate in the Church’s mission.

The specific purpose of a Catholic education is the formation of students who will be good citizens of the world, loving God and neighbor and enriching society with the leaven of the Gospel, and who will also be citizens of the world to come thus fulfilling their destiny to become saints.

Catholic schools offer outstanding academic programs. Students are exposed to the human knowledge and skills they need to be good citizens of this world. The academic programs, however, offer more than secular knowledge. They are infused with our Catholic faith which recognizes and addresses the students’ eternal destiny.Our students, as all of us, are called to holiness. The call to holiness is addressed in the diocesan priority, Creating a Culture of Vocations.

Yes, our students are called to be saints! Instruction and the personal witness of teachers provide them with the education and example to grow in holiness through the practice of virtue in imitation of Christ. In addition, the specific path to holiness as a married or single person, a priest, deacon, or member of the consecrated life is presented to students as an opportunity to discover God’s plan for them.

Their vocation, their specific path to holiness, is not solely a consideration of what they want “to be” but what God is calling them to be.

Our schools will welcome the We are Called Vocation Awareness Plan that is being developed and will use the material to promote a culture that supports and encourages students to discover God’s plan for them.

Strengthening Faith Formation in Family Life is a priority which our schools will eagerly embrace. Catholic schools partner with parents in the education and formation of their children. They recognize parents as the first and primary teacher of their children in the ways of faith. What children are taught in school about their faith needs to be modeled in the home.

The sacraments received by school age children, especially Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation are important events in their lives.  Preparation for these sacraments is a teachable moment for the parents as well as the students.  Engaging parents in the sacramental preparation of their children is essential. Sacramental preparation is a collaborative effort involving the school, the parish and the family.

The family catechesis for the seven Sacraments which will be provided for every parish by February 2016 will assist teachers and administers as they continue to build relationships with parents that involve them in their on-going faith formation as well as the faith formation of their children.

Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity to showcase the unique character of our Catholic schools, emphasizing their academic excellence and faith-filled education. What better way for us to showcase our schools at this point in time than to consider our schools mission and defining characteristics in light of our mutually Shared Vision and Diocesan Priorities?

These are exciting and hope-filled times for our diocese. Our Catholic schools are fertile ground for the implementation of our diocesan priorities.

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