While I have never considered myself an intellectual, I have always enjoyed learning about a great variety of things. I love reading history, biographies, classic novels and about the lives of the saints. As a kid in Boy Scouts, I became a beekeeper because my scoutmaster was a beekeeper. I remember devouring every book I could find about beekeeping from our local library and I could talk about bees for hours.
When it comes to reflecting on my own formal education as a young person, I continue to prize my formative years at St. Joseph Grade School in La Porte, Indiana, where I was taught by loving and joyful Franciscan sisters, as well as two amazing lay teachers. They instilled in me a love of learning and also planted the seeds of my vocation as a priest. It is no surprise that my first-grade teacher, Sister Estelle, could boast that four of her first graders, all from different schools at which she taught, became priests, as did two of her nephews!
Those of us who attended Catholic schools treasure these hallowed halls of learning that strive to impart a rigorous and full development of the mind, that instill faith and virtues, that offer an experience of Christian community and assist young people in discerning their particular vocation in the world.
In the words of Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, “Education is the art of helping young people to completeness.” He also wrote this about teachers, “I have always been convinced that the duty of any teacher is to produce Christians; society has a greater need for people of values than it has for scholars.”
I am so pleased that our new superintendent of schools, Sara Michaelson, is organizing a special workshop titled, “Telling a Faithful, Optimistic Story for Your School and Students,” on Aug. 19 at St. Mary Parish in Alexandria for all our Catholic school educators. It will be conducted by Dr. Ron Fussel, associate chair of education and director of Catholic school leadership at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
As the flyer states, “Throughout the day, educators will immerse themselves in a tapestry of wisdom and insight, guided by Fussel’s expertise and passion for fostering optimism and faith in education. It promises to be a day of empowerment, leaving attendees equipped with the tools and inspiration to craft compelling narratives of hope within their educational communities.”
In a nation that is increasingly divided and polarized, our country, now more than ever, needs young people who embody Christian values. That is what our Catholic schools strive to accomplish. Let us do our part to support the health and vitality of our Catholic schools and pray often for our educators who sacrifice so much to produce young Christians for our society and our world. I truly look forward to being a part of this special day with our school educators and to hearing the compelling narratives of hope that will continue to inspire their service to our young people and their families for years to come.
Yours in Christ,
+ Bishop Patrick M. Neary, CSC, the 10th bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota.