The Valley Catholic
IN OUR DIOCESE
September 10, 2013
5
‘For your students and their parents, you are great examples of faith’
Msgr. Francis V. Cilia, Vicar General of the Diocese of San Jose, celebrated the Mass at the Catholic School Convocation and gave the homily, welcoming Catholic educators and calling them to “be examples of God’s living and abiding presence.” In this Year of Faith, he said, “Let’s talk about faithfulness – your rootedness in faithfulness and your ability to share that with your students. Every new school year there are new endeavors, that take many forms, as well as a leap of faith. For example, this year the St. Katherine Drexel Initiative is rolling out in some of our schools.” He called attention to the recent ?rst encyclical of Pope Francis, “Light of Faith,” which, he said, “guides us through all things. We know our past, our history, but we don’t know the future, but each day we are making the future. “As people who teach the faith,” Msgr. Cilia said, “We promise to be a light for all Christians and to live the promise which God promises us. We have to be able to articulate what we believe. For your students and their parents, you are great examples of faith. “You know your faith is alive because you live it and question it. You are examples of God’s living and abiding presence. Be Christ to one another. You are the bridge to the past and the future. Let you faith be alive!”
At convocation at opening of new school year (l-r) Father Brendan McGuire, Vicar General for Special Projects; DSJ Superintendent of Schools, Kathy Almazol; Dr. Mary McDonald, education consultant who was featured speaker; and Msgr. Francis V. Cilia, Vicar General, who celebrated Mass.
Catholic educator addresses opening school convocation
By Roberta Ward pal again and eventually was invited Schools opened on August 19 in the to be Superintendent in Memphis, TenDiocese of San Jose for 2013-14 with a nessee where she served for 35 years as special convocation and Mass at Santa a teacher, principal at two schools, and Clara Mission Church on the campus of retired last year as superintendent after Santa Clara University. Kathy Almazol, 14 years in that post. Superintendent of Schools, welcomed Memphis Bishop J. Terry Steib had principals, teachers and staffs of the urged her to become superintendent 28 elementary and six Catholic high and was concerned about inner-city schools, and introduced the featured schools which were largely closed; the speaker. remainder being “fragile.” McDonald Dr. Mary McDonald, a national recalled the bishop told her to ?nd a educational consultant who focuses way to make Catholic schools a preson Catholic schools, greeted the educaence in the inner-city – which was only tors. She said, “It is especially signi?four percent Catholic – and added, “We cant that you come together today on have no money.” the of?cial ?rst day of school. You come “So, I went home and got on my together as a faith community. This knees,” McDonald said. “Then I heard is holy ground because you are here, God speak to me in my heart — ‘learn because you are Catholic educators.” to swim’ — that’s what God’s call was McDonald gave practical and spiriand still is. It is a blessing to work in tual advice urging her audience to Catholic schools, and you begin to stay focused on Catholic education, expect miracles. We have to put God its meaning, and “how you got here. in charge. Teach your students that.” How did you know that you wanted She began to talk with lots of to be in Catholic school ministry? You people in Memphis — Catholic and have a history with God. Where do non-Catholic — and in the year 2000 you encounter Christ in the Jubilee Schools were your life? Do you want born after a businessto share your faith?” man phoned who was ‘As Catholic Sh e r e c a l le d h e r interested in helping educators, what own roots in Catholic children. In fact, two you do matters education, in the midlocal men in business, 1960s. “I felt called by both Protestants, said to students, their God,” she said. “I knew they wanted to help refamilies, your what teachers did. I was vive Catholic education teaching; I was walking in inner-city Memphis. community…’ on water! Until the kids McDonald oversaw came in!” t he open ing of eight She was at a large inner-city school schools which had been closed from in Philadelphia then; 53 kids in the 8 to over 50 years, with the men’s class. “The students were not paying multi-million dollar donation. Bishop attention and by the end of the day, no Steib suggested they be called Jubilee one wanted to be in that class – includSchools and they currently operate ing me! 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