tvc.dsj.org | January 21, 2020
IN THE DIOCESE
3
The Ministry of Catholic Schools
Although I am away
this week to give re-
ports of our Diocese to
Pope Francis and his
administration in Rome,
I wish to acknowledge
the celebration of Catho-
lic Schools Week. As we celebrate this
important ministry of our church, I am
cognizant of the great blessing Catholic
schools have been for our families, our
communities, for public and private life,
and for our country. Catholic schools
have educated leaders in public life and
in private industry; they have strength-
ened marriages and formed spirit-filled
and purposeful parents. Catholic
schools have helped form communi-
ties of joy in learning, of respect for one
another, of exploration of laws of the
natural world, of respect and awe at the
laws of God’s love and truth, and a sense
of wonder at the God-created universe.
While there are many qualities that
make up Catholic schools, I highlight
three: Catholic identity, sustainability,
and accessibility.
Catholic Identity: Catholic schools
must be Catholic. What do I mean by
this? It does not mean that all who
participate in the mission and fruits of
Catholic education must be Catholic.
No. Catholic schools are open to all who
acknowledge the value of a Catholic
education. Catholic identity means we
must be Catholic through and through.
From the doctrine we teach, to the
tradition in which we worship, to the
outreach to humanity which we practice
– we must be Catholic. As Catholics we
do not proselytize: we do not force or
pressure people to accept Catholicism.
Rather, we live the faith in joy and offer
a witness of hope to the world.
Sustainability: the ministry of Catho-
lic schools is so important that it is criti-
cal that we assure the sustainability of
these institutions for future students
and generations. It is easy to get com-
fortable in the structure of an institu-
tion, such that, unfortunately, we don’t
think about whether that structure is
sustainable into the future. Adminis-
trators and boards need to think about
whether a school’s structure needs to be
tweaked, or if it needs a new direction
or strategy, for sustainability into the
future. I am most grateful to our many
pastors, board members, and school
administrators for the insightful and
courageous work they have done and
continue to do in this regard. Pertinent
data is most important in assessing the
needs of schools into the future.
Accessibility: part of the legacy
and heritage of Catholic schools in
the United States has been providing
quality Catholic education to working
class and immigrant families. In this
way, Catholic schools have provided
countless families and individuals a
hand up in society, preparing them for
leadership in families, community, and
society. It is important that our schools
remain accessible to families from all
socio-economic backgrounds. Catholic
schools have played an important role
in preparing quality leadership from
which our country has benefited for
generations. I am grateful to our school
leadership for providing scholarships to
families in financial need. We intend to
continue to provide and grow needed
scholarships at the Diocesan level for
deserving families.
A blessed Catholic Schools Week
to all!
Bishop Oscar Cantú
Catholic Schools Week Celebration
Each January, Catholic schools across
the nation come together for a week-long
celebration of Catholic education. As I
began preparing for this year’s Catholic
Schools Week liturgies, I found myself
struck by Sunday’s Gospel where we
find Christ calling his disciples. While
I’ve read the passage in Matthew’s fourth
chapter many times, I heard it for the first
time through my young daughter’s voice.
For the past couple months, she’s
been asking for stories before bed, so I
started by sharing anecdotes from when
I was a child – hiking the Appalachian
Trail with my dad, diving into art with
my mom, learning to play the saxo-
phone (which sounds remarkably like a
buzz saw in the first few weeks). Soon,
though, my daughter began requesting
more recent stories. It was in the middle
of one of these when she suddenly asked,
“Why did you want to be a Catholic
school teacher?” In the moment, I admit-
tedly gave her a brief response, but as I
was rereading Matthew’s Gospel, I heard
her voice echo in Christ’s call, “Come
after me,” and I began reflecting more
deeply on my journey.
Serving in Catholic education wasn’t
what I ever anticipated as a child.
Growing up in a small town in Ten-
nessee, I didn’t have the opportunity to
attend a Catholic school until I reached
college. Upon graduation, led by a deep
commitment to our Church’s social
teachings, I joined a two-year “ser-
vice-through-teaching” program that
placed me as a seventh-grade teacher in
a Catholic elementary school in inner-
city Los Angeles. It is there that I first
experienced the unparalleled impact
of Catholic education. I witnessed how
Catholic schools have the immense
ability to transform a child’s life, how–
amid a societal culture of increasing
isolation–Catholic schools affirm hu-
man dignity and embrace every child
in a community of belonging. It is there
that I first understood that I was called
to dedicate my vocation to Catholic
education, a call that has led me here.
God’s call to the ministry of Catholic
education, however, is not unique to me.
It has touched over a thousand educa-
tors and staff throughout our diocese.
To all those serving in our schools, we
are indebted to your willingness and
commitment to answer this call each
day. You are touching the very hearts of
those you serve, nurturing communion
with Christ and one another. For over
15,000 students within our diocese, you
ensure that every child has a voice and
that every child feels known and seen.
You foster a love of learning, a deep
sense of compassion, and a commit-
ment to serving humanity and protect-
ing God’s creation. You are giving our
youth the lens not only to navigate the
world but the ability to truly transform
it. In this way, you are ensuring that
Catholic schools are at the very heart of
our Church and the future of our com-
munity. I sincerely thank you for being
stewards of this vital ministry.
We are not, however, doing this
work alone, and many outside tradi-
tional administrators, faculty, and staff
are answering the call to support Cath-
olic schools. Indeed, formation of chil-
dren is such a central ministry, woven
into the very fabric of our Church, that
we’re all invited to this sacred mission
– through the partnership of parents
as primary educators, the guidance of
pastors, the generosity of benefactors,
the engagement of alums and parish-
ioners, the prayers of the community,
the encouragement of a new family to
join a school, the donation of a schol-
arship to provide an opportunity to a
child, the offering of time and talent. I
extend my deep gratitude to the wider
community for this immense impact
on our Catholic schools.
Building on this work of all those sup-
porting Catholic education today, we at
the Department of Catholic Schools are
also striving to respond to Christ’s call
by endeavoring to transform education
in our valley. We are fostering connec-
tions and networks across our schools,
creating opportunities for leaders and
educators to learn from the diverse expe-
rience and expertise of one another. We
are strengthening our programs, open-
ing our doors, and developing opportu-
nities to support accessibility as we work
to fulfil our mission to welcome, serve,
and fully form all children. We are tak-
ing a critical look at our operations and
growing them in a manner that meets
not only the needs of our ministry today
but the sustainability of this ministry for
future generations.
As our nation celebrates Catholic
Schools Week, I encourage everyone
to reach out to one another to share
your own stories of Catholic schools.
And as we enter this new year, I invite
us all to return to Matthew’s Gospel
through the voice of a child and reflect
on Christ’s apostolic invitation: How
are we each called to support the mis-
sion of Catholic education?
Many blessings,
Jennifer Beltramo
Superintendent of Schools