This weekend we kick off our annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week with the theme "Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service." Saint Paul asks the Corinthian community in our second reading this Sunday to, "Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards...rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise..." This week as we celebrate our Catholic schools, especially our own Catholic school of St. Mary's, we consider the great calling we have received from Jesus to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations." 

The Catholic school serves as a vehicle of privileged encounter with Jesus. I see this every day. Our faculty, staff and students have the opportunity to keep faith at the heart of all that we do. You have heard me say this before, our public schools offer a good education. I went to one from kindergarten through my senior year of high school until I went to a Catholic college but a public school can't do what we can do. We have a particular mission and calling as a Catholic school to to form students to be good citizens of the world, love God and neighbor and enrich society with the leaven of the gospel and by example of faith. We need this in the world now more than ever before. Just this week my freshman completed a project researching their own baptism and the impact of that sacrament in their lives while my juniors are digging deep into Catholic morality and ethics. These kind of faith building things happen in our school every day. This is what sets us apart. Parents are the first and primary teachers of the faith and the Catholic school helps them fulfill their calling of handing this faith on to their children. St. Mary's School leadership, board members  and parents were happy to hear that the Students First bill was signed into law this week. The Education Savings Accounts will assist parents of all income levels to send their child to the school of their choice.   We are grateful to all who reached out to their state legislators to help make ESAs and school choice a reality.

This Catholic schools week is extra special for us as we will welcome Bishop Nickless and Superintendent Lansink to St. Mary's next Thursday to spend the day in our school and celebrate a special Mass with us to celebrate our Catholic school and the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. I'll be welcoming the bishop into my classroom as well to help teach both freshman and junior religion. I hope he is ready!

Our Catholic schools serve as a foundation in the life of our students and a beacon of light in our Church and world. Now more than ever we have the opportunity to make a Catholic education possible for those who want it for their children. As you've heard me say so many times before, if you are considering a Catholic education for your kids, come see us, we will make it possible. One thing is clear, it takes so many people to make our Catholic school successful, from administration, faculty, staff, parents, volunteers, students, donors, and all of you, parishioners of St. Mary's. Thank you for the sacrifices you and your families have made since Catholic education began in our parish back in 1912. We are especially grateful for the wisdom and guidance of the religious sisters who laid such a strong foundation. 

Stay warm, eventually Spring will be here! 

Father Lingle