As another academic year draws to a close I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to all of those dedicated individuals working in the field of education.  I am repeatedly amazed at the creativity and commitment of so many teachers and administrators in the educational system.  Your professionalism and expertise is truly appreciated.

I send a special word of congratulations to the administration, faculty and staff at Holy Name School in Sheridan, Wyoming.  As your institution celebrates its 100th anniversary, please know of my continued prayers for your success.

I have had the privilege to be involved and connected with Catholic schools for quite a few years now.  This has consisted of serving in a number of roles.  I have been the Coordinator of Religious Education, a high school theology teacher and campus minister, principal of a K-8 school, and now the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Cheyenne for the last four years.  I continue to learn and grow with each new experience and with each passing year.

These last four years have provided an opportunity to see Catholic education from a vantage point which I had not previously considered.  Being involved with more than one school at a time creates a perspective not as easily realized when confined to one parochial institution.  It has enabled me to witness the successes and the struggles of the various educational institutions and put it into the context of the universal Church.  We are all working toward the goal of educating our children in light of the faith, but the way that is accomplished is varied indeed.

A school with fifty students functions differently than the school with over three hundred students.  The school with a leaning toward the Classical Curriculum has a different flavor than the one which does not have that direction.  Some schools may have a more vibrant athletic program than their counterparts, but others may be stronger in areas of music, speech, and drama.  The end result is still the desire to provide an academic education enveloped in the faith of Jesus Christ and His Church.

Principals and administrators—thank you for your leadership.  You set the tone for the school.  Your ability to model the faith and provide excellent spiritual and academic leadership for the school is essential to its success.  Author John Maxwell says an institution will rise and fall in connection with the leadership at the top.  Each of you bears an immense amount of responsibility for the success of your school.  I offer a special word of gratitude to each of the Catholic school principals in Wyoming.  Your task is not an easy one, but your effort and dedication is truly appreciated.  This superintendent certainly appreciates your work.

Teachers continue to amaze me at what they are able to accomplish each year in their classrooms.  The environment of education has changed immensely over the years—and not always for the better.  However, our teachers continue to adapt and change to the times.  Keeping up with technological changes is one thing, but keeping up with the changes in cultural norms and expectations is a whole different story in and of itself.  Your skills, your flexibility, and your commitment to education are truly honorable.  Thank you for the sacrifices you make to help our children learn and grow into mature Christian adults.  Your work has eternal consequences, and for each of you striving to do it well, I simply say, THANK YOU.

The support staff keeps the wheels of the institution turning.  Thank you to each of you as well.  Paraprofessionals add a huge dimension to the success of our schools.  The bookwork and record keeping is no small task.  Keeping the facilities in tip-top shape, sometimes on a very limited budget, is not something we can take for granted.  The meals provided to the students in our cafeterias gets to be more difficult all the time.  Following the federal guidelines is a daunting task all by itself.  In each of these supportive roles, I simply say, THANK YOU.

Parents and volunteers, financial benefactors, and community business owners who support the endeavors of the local Catholic schools, THANK YOU.  Your generous support is essential for the future of our institutions.  I realize the immense sacrifices that parents make to send their children to Catholic schools.  The financial resources and the volunteer hours you provide for the upkeep of the school is truly appreciated.

As we prepare to enter into summer vacation, I extend my best wishes to all of the students for a joy-filled and safe summer.  Likewise, I pray that all of the administrators, teachers, and support staff find time for rest and relaxation as well.  May God bless each of you abundantly!

How is the Catholic faith effectively handed on from one generation to the next?  Many educators and faith formation coordinators have lamented in recent decades that we have not done a good job in evangelizing and catechizing our people.  Thus, it is frequently perceived that our current Catholic population lacks a thorough knowledge and understanding of Church teachings.  Is that perception accurate?

On January 24, 2014, Michael Voris posted a video reflecting on some things he observed at the pro-life march in Washington, D.C.   http://www.churchmilitant.tv/daily/?today=2014-01-24   

He commented about the impressive aspect of seeing so many young people braving the bitter cold to participate in the march, but he conducted some unscientific interviews with many of them while he was there and walked away with some disturbing statistics.  He found that 30% of the young people gathered for the march were okay with the use of contraception.  He also found that 19% of the young people were accepting of homosexual physically active relationships.  In his observation, Michael Voris points out that the culture of death has already slipped into the hearts and minds of the young Church.  Remember, these observations were made in regard to those young “pro-life” people present at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.  What do you think these interviews would unmask if they were conducted in a completely different venue?

Michael Voris is very direct in addressing Church leadership about their shortcomings and failures in regard to preaching and teaching the fullness of the faith, and he readily acknowledges that being the messenger of such news does not make him popular in certain circles.  I will admit that his criticisms are difficult to hear since I fall into one of the categories on the receiving end of the message.  However, it is essential for all of us, clergy and laity, who have teaching responsibilities within the Church to take our roles seriously.  Subsequently, I believe Mr. Voris gives us an opportunity for some solid evaluation and reflection of our ministerial outreach.

How do we a draw a balance in our preaching and teaching?  Is there a way to not focus on “fire and brimstone” constantly, and yet truly teach the more difficult components of the faith?  Quite simply, how do we teach the truth in love?  What can we learn from the past, and how can we apply it to the present?

Cicero (106 B.C. – 43 B.C.) listed three aims of rhetoric: (1) to teach; (2) to delight; and (3) to persuade.  St. Augustine picked up on this from Cicero and reinforced the importance of clarity in our communication.  He applied this to both teaching and preaching.  His admonishment was straight to the point when he said, “The speaker should not primarily consider the quality of his teaching, but the clarity of it.”  (On Christian Doctrine 4, 12, 27)

Obviously, we are pursuing goals much more prolific than the simple development of oratorical skills.  However, it makes sense to utilize the concepts of effective rhetoric in our teaching and preaching.  In what ways do we strive to “delight the heart?”  If our approach to teaching is vibrant and engaging we have the potential to create an atmosphere more conducive to learning.  It is no secret that if we delight the heart, the mind becomes more receptive to our teaching.  Ultimately, this receptivity, or lack thereof, impacts our ability to persuade the hearer as we invite him/her to conversion.  God chooses to use us as instruments of His love; it is important that we cooperate with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as we minster. 

Continuing our celebration of Catholic Schools Week encourages all of us with teaching responsibilities in our schools (and other settings as well) to engage in some serious reflection.  How do I engage in prayer and study in my own life?  Am I on fire with the love of God?  Why did I enter this ministry?  Am I pursuing my passion or my pension?  Finally, am I effectively contributing to the building up of the Kingdom of God?

“Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service”

The celebration of Catholic Schools Week began on January 26 and runs through February 1.  This week the spotlight clearly shines on the mission of Catholic education as the theme so aptly declares, “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service”.

The National Catholic Educational Association highlights some statistics on their website that are quite revealing.  Over two million students are enrolled in Catholic schools in the current academic year at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels.  Of these students, 317,470 are non-Catholic.  That is just under 16% of the total enrollment of students in the Catholic system.  There are a total of 6,685 Catholic schools in the United States; we celebrated the opening of 28 new ones this year while also witnessing the closing or consolidation of 148 others.  The overall student/teacher ratio is 13:1.

Full-time (equivalent) staff in our Catholic schools is comprised predominantly of the laity; lay women comprise 74.5% while lay men make up 22.3% for a total of 96.8%.  Clergy and religious only comprise 3.2 % of professional staff in our Catholic schools.

What do these statistics reveal about the state of Catholic education in our country?  Obviously, the Catholic educational system still has a profound impact on our society with 6,685 schools in operation and over 2 million students enrolled.  Those numbers suggest a huge potential for shaping the culture with solid Christian Catholic values if effective faith formation and education are a central component of each of these Catholic schools.  On the other hand, if we see our schools functioning simply as private schools, but not necessarily all that focused on being Catholic, we won’t see the potential fulfilled as dramatically as it could be.  If that occurs, then we have missed our purpose and our mission.  There are over 2,000 Catholic schools with a waiting list for admission, and I am sincerely hopeful that our Catholicity is the driving force behind that positive statistic.  

The decline of religious men and women (priests, brothers and sisters) has certainly impacted Catholic education in recent decades.  This decline has definitely been viewed in a negative light, and with good reason.  Our religious men and women bring a Catholic presence into our Catholic institutions that are uniquely their own, and it is sometimes difficult to capture those charisms in laity-led endeavors.  However, this decline in the number of religious serving our schools has provided a profound opportunity for the laity to step up to a ministry which empowers them to more fully live out their vocational call to holiness.  Vatican II recognized the vital role of the laity, and the modern Catholic educational system is a place where the laity exercise a premier ministry in shaping the hearts and minds of the young Church.

Catholic Schools Week celebrates a wide range of attributes regarding our vast educational system across the country.  First and foremost, I see it as a time of gratitude.  Many people sacrificed immensely throughout the years to get us to where we are today.  They gave generously of their time, talent, and treasure to make Catholic education a reality and we cannot take those sacrifices for granted.  Generous people continue to make sacrifices today to continue the tradition, and it is imperative that we live with grateful hearts for these blessings.

Parents, you are the first and primary teachers of your children in the faith.  Thank you for the many ways you take that obligation seriously.  Your ability to model the faith to your children cannot be matched by anyone else; you have a unique role bestowed by God.  The Catholic school and parish serve as a support system to assist you in this endeavor, but you provide the foundation upon which these other avenues are able to build.  Please continue to pray with (and for) your children that they may grow in wisdom, grace, and holiness.

Catholic school administrators, you fulfill a significant role in establishing the spiritual climate of your Catholic school.  The spirituality of the faculty, staff, students, and parents cannot simply be an “add-on” thing that you do when it is convenient.  The Christian perspective has to be the central focus of all that takes place on campus, and a Christ-like attitude should permeate every fiber of our Catholic schools.  Administrators, thank you for the leadership you demonstrate to make our Catholicity a reality in the institutions that you serve.  Keep the flame of faith burning brightly.

Faculty and staff, thank you for your ministry to the students and parents who enter the walls of your school.  Your pursuit of excellence as an educator, and as a Christian, creates an environment in your classroom that serves as a catalyst for others to pursue excellence too.  Your enthusiasm for academic learning and faith formation as well as your zest for life are contagious.  You have the opportunity to be a blessing to everyone who enters your room, including your colleagues.  Don’t miss the chance to be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ!  

Students, it can be challenging at times to stay focused on learning, loving, and living Christ.  There are many things in the world designed to distract you from those things that are important in your academic studies as well as your faith formation and development.  Please know that the guidance of your parents and teachers is a responsibility they possess by the vocational calling they have received, and it is a responsibility not taken lightly.  While none of us fulfill our duties perfectly, I hope you are able to witness an abundance of love and caring from those whose care you are entrusted.  It is my sincere prayer that each of you experience the immense love of God through the love and respect of your parents and teachers.  Happy Catholic Schools Week!

“Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service”

    

A recent article going around on Facebook exclaims that teachers are hailed as heroes during times of crisis, but are generally under fire at other times.  It is true that school shootings, tornadoes, and other disasters highlight the heroic actions of our educators under some very dire circumstances.  I believe it is also true that there are many unheralded acts of heroism that take place by our educators all throughout the school year.

I want to say THANK YOU to all of our teachers, administrators, and support staff working so diligently in our schools all across the country to make a difference.  The work you do is admirable.  We expect a lot from you—much more than an education for our children—we expect you to wear so many hats that I dare not even try to mention them.  In all of the ways you succeed at meeting our expectations, thank you!

The teaching profession has individuals who excel in their field; it also has individuals who lack the skills necessary to be effective as well as those who are simply content with mediocrity.  It is the same in any other profession.  The sad reality in education is that we often times focus our attention on the poor performers and penalize the competent individuals in the process.  As we move our educational structures to focus more and more on standardized assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of teachers, we lose much of the creativity, sensitivity, and compassion that need to be present between teacher and student to create an environment conducive to learning.  Our fixation on standardized testing leads us down a path where we can over-emphasize performance versus true learning.  Adequate assessments are important to make sure we are pursuing academic excellence, but a teacher building a bond with the students is important to be sure we are pursuing Christian excellence.

Let me focus attention on Catholic school teachers for a moment.  You have many unique challenges in your chosen profession.  First of all, it is no secret that you are frequently underpaid.  There are some locales where Catholic school teachers make only 50% of what their public school counterparts are making.  That is a sacrifice you have chosen to make because you look at your profession as a ministry.  Thank you for your commitment and sacrifice.

Catholic school teachers frequently are called upon to go above and beyond the call of duty in their parish as well.  They are expected to be seen at parish events, the sporting events of their students, fundraisers, and the list goes on and on.  These sacrifices of time are made because of the sense of commitment and the sense of family that is present in so many of our Catholic school teachers.  Thank you for your presence at these events.

Thank you for all of the work during the year grading papers, preparing lesson plans, staying in touch with parents, and creating a classroom environment with your decorations that says, “Welcome!  Glad you are here!”  The work you do behind the scenes is appreciated, and it is unfortunate that most of you don’t hear the words thank you often enough.

The one item that astounds me is when I hear people say, “Teachers only work nine months out of the year.”  So teachers, as you prepare to wrap up the current academic year and embark on your three month vacation, we won’t watch as you pursue professional development coursework over the summer, or as you work creating new lesson plans, designing your upcoming year’s bulletin boards, writing welcome postcards to your incoming students, and on and on.  We know you think all of that is fun and that is how you choose to spend your “vacation”.   (Yes, that is being said tongue in cheek.)

Although the field of education has become a political football at the national and state levels in many regards (and at the local level in some cases), I want to take a moment to look beyond all of that and see the good that has taken place in our classrooms during this year.  Teachers, thank you for the positive ways you have touched the lives of your students this year.  Principals, thank you for your leadership.  Support staff, thank you for all of the things you do that goes unnoticed and unappreciated.  To all who support the local schools with your financial support and your volunteerism, thank you!  Each of you is an important component to our pursuit of excellence on a daily basis.

Have a blessed summer!

"There is real magic in enthusiasm.  It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment."
~Norman Vincent Peale

"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents."
~Andrew Carnegie

"Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius."
~Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

"It's a sign of mediocrity when you demonstrate gratitude with moderation."
~Roberto Benigni