"Faith in Every Student"

A Message From Bishop Blair

What would Catholic life be like without our schools? As a proud graduate of lifelong Catholic education I have always enjoyed making pastoral visits to the classroom. There I hear children from their youngest years speak with love and joy about the Person of Jesus and about the truths of the Gospel and our faith. Faith, virtue and character, as well as knowledge and skills – these are the hallmarks of a Catholic education for the good of the church, the family, our culture, our nationand world.

I have experienced first hand the deep personal commitment of teachers, parents and parishioners to maintaining and furthering the goals of Catholic education. It is with great respect for the accomplishments of our Catholic educational system that I encourage you who are parents to consider a Catholic school for your children.

And to those who have already made that choice, I offer my sincere thanks for the sacrifices that this involves for many of you. It is a commitment of both your financial resources and your time in a world that makes many claims on both. May you and your children be richly blessed for your choice of a Catholic school.

Always remember, however, that your home is the first and indispensable “classroom” in the faith. No Catholic school or religious education program can substitute for the faithful participation of your family in the sacraments, especially Sunday Mass everyweek, the practice of prayer and devotion, and your own example of Christian virtue. Each Catholic home is meant to be a “domestic church.”

I also want to commend our hard-working administrators, faculty members, support staffs, and benefactors. The integration of faith with all that these dedicated people do is perhaps the most important lesson our children can learn.

May the Lord bless and reward everyone associated with the great work of Catholic Education!