This week we have been celebrating Catholic Schools Week. The theme for this year’s annual celebration is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” That theme is comprehensive but appropriate.

 

Our Catholic schools, throughout the country but especially in the Diocese of Rockford, exist to help our young people, Catholic and non-Catholic, to learn how to become fully what God has created them to be. That means first, foremost and always, learning about God and about the truth of our Catholic faith.

 

What is distinctive about our Catholic schools is that they are a part of the evangelization mission of the Church. 

 

There is only one thing that matters for each one of us and for our young people. That is to live so as to love God and ultimately to be with Him forever in heaven. 

 

Regular prayer, participation at Mass, confession and religious instruction help our young people to understand themselves, their families, and the world itself. Everything that our students do and study is integrated into this context.

 

At the same time, we take great pride that our Catholic schools shine with excellence in their academic preparation of our students. In math, science, language, reading and writing our students consistently test above the national and state averages. In short, in Catholic schools students learn well.

 

Of course learning about God and the important school subjects cannot, alone, suffice. That knowledge needs to be applied. And so we teach our students to use what they have learned to serve others and the world. 

 

Our high schools in particular offer numerous service possibilities. For example, recently athletic teams at Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford raised money and garnered publicity in support of the Poor Clare Sisters in Rockford. 

 

At Aquin Central Catholic High School in Freeport, the Interact Group affords students the opportunity for service such as sponsoring food drives and making Thanksgiving baskets. 

 

And last week, young people from our Catholic grade schools and high schools bussed to Washington to witness to the good of human life in the annual March for Life.

 

The vision of Catholic schools is to make our students able to be the best that God has made them to be. The knowledge and mission that they acquire is not meant to be hidden, not intended to be hoarded. For that reason the formation of leadership skills in our students is another characteristic of a Catholic education.

 

Leadership comes in a spectrum and a range of possibilities. It might be the skills that make one to be an elected representative seeking the common good. Or perhaps the head of a business that is very attentive to Catholic social teaching in working for justice with its employees and their families.

 

Leadership might also be seen in the courage and strength to be that wise and always helpful neighbor, or that organizer among the women at the parish who seek a weekly gathering of prayer and mutual support. 

 

In any case, when we consider leadership we think of the values of good character that are important to Catholic education.

 

Finally, our Catholic schools set our young people up to succeed. That is a very real world recognition that life is full of challenges. Success is not guaranteed for anyone, even for the smartest or most trained of young people. It will often require an ability to constantly analyze, plan, and adapt to the changes in life.

 

It is by keeping before the eyes of our young people the ultimate goal of life with Christ, acknowledging that we walk this earth for only a short while, recognizing that life and family are precious and that knowledge is service, all of these factors combined with prayer and trust create the conditions for real success.

 

I am grateful to all of the teachers, principals and administrators in our Catholic schools. Thanks also to all the families, parents and donors who make these schools possible. 

 

Over the past several years, the Diocese of Rockford has developed and begun to implement our Faith Forward Strategic Plan which seeks to review and coalesce our resources for Catholic education. At times this has meant consolidating some schools and closing others in order to develop new centralized schools that will help strengthen Catholic education for the future. 

 

I am very grateful for the vision, commitment and sacrifices of the faithful, families, teachers and principals and the pastors who have helped to make this plan a reality.

 

Parents, why not visit your local Catholic grade school or high school this week? Look and see how much they have to offer. Catholic Schools Week is always a great reminder of how Catholic education can benefit your children and your family.