|
Mass honors state’s Catholic schools
By Andrew Junker, The Catholic Sun
February 7, 2008
Students, teachers, administrators and parents filled Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral Jan. 30 to celebrate the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass.
The Mass served as a focal point for the week, which was filled with festive and educational activities highlighting this year’s theme: “Catholic Schools: Lighting the Way.”
“This year’s theme represents the special role of Catholic schools,” said MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Phoenix Diocese. “In lighting the way through a Catholic education, teachers support the whole child in learning about and leading a Christ-filled life.”
Before Mass began, students from various schools acted out this year’s theme by processing through the darkened cathedral with candles. As they placed the candles on the altar, other students offered ideas of what it means to “light the way” from the ambo.
During the homily, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted offered his own reflection on this year’s theme.
“Catholic schools light the way,” he said, and then asked, “The way where? The way of goodness, the way of truth and the way to take up your cross each day and follow after Christ.”
The bishop also reflected on the Gospel reading, which was the parable of the sower. The Church can learn what Jesus’ experience in teaching was through this parable, he said.
“What is it like for Jesus the teacher to teach the Good News? It is like failure,” he said, noting that the seed cast by the sower only takes root in one out of four instances.
Likewise, educators should take heart if they become discouraged.
“Real success in God’s eyes often looks like failure to the eyes of those whose hearts are set on this world,” he said, and listed the qualities of truly successful teachers.
“They are the teachers who do not set out to be popular, but those who want their children or pupils to be good, to understand what is right, true and beautiful,” the bishop said.
Bishop Gerald Kicanas from Tucson con-celebrated the Mass with Bishop Olmsted and pastors of parishes that have Catholic schools.
|
