Dear Pastors, Principals, Teachers and Parents:
May God bless you! Congratulations on your ministry as we celebrate all you do for our children and youth during Catholic Schools Week.
The theme for this school year, “A Time for Shaping,” speaks well to your efforts to form our children and youth as beloved children of God.
I heard a story recently about someone who is not Catholic but who offered some comments about Catholic schools. This person observed that religion in Catholic schools is not just observed in religion class or at a weekly school Mass, but is immersed in everything Catholic schools do. I call that great shaping!
Teachers — shape students as you help them understand specific subject areas with great academic rigor and in the process shape your students’ knowledge, understanding, critical thinking skills, and ability to integrate their education into their lives.
Pastors — shape students as you celebrate Mass and the sacraments with them and accompany them in their journey of faith.
Principals — shape students through your leadership of the school and your work with their teachers.
And parents, the first educators — shape your children every day through your good example, practice of your faith, and constant loving presence in their lives. All of this shaping being carried out within the unique culture of our Catholic schools creates a very special and supportive community in which everyone is united in sharing common values and in giving our students a world-class education. Congratulations!
In August, our Superintendent, Leisa Schulz, offered a prayer to be used during this school year, a portion of which I would like to include here as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week.
A time for shaping is ours …
A time to love God more intensely in ourselves and in each other.
A time to believe in the Jesus whom we share.
A time to look at our Catholic school journey with new eyes.
A time to lift up to God our gratitude for all who have been a vital part of the history and life of our Catholic schools.
A time to trust in our God whose name is Love.
A time to implore our patrons to be with us as we strive to carry on the work of Catholic education in the Church.
A time to rely on the guidance of the Spirit who accompanies us in our searching.
A time to enable our Catholic schools to become all that God hopes for them.
A time of shaping is ours … remembering, as clay in the hand of the potter, so we are in the hand of God. Amen. (Jeremiah 18)
Please know of my prayers for all of you. Happy Catholic Schools Week 2020!
Sincerely yours in our Lord,
Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.
Archbishop of Louisville
