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Diocese Holds Annual Catholic Educators Conference
More than 800 Catholic educators gathered September 19 for the annual Diocesan Education Conference. The one-day event was held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Raleigh. The day began with the celebration of Mass, with Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge presiding.
Bishop Burbidge joined Catholic School Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Fedewa in the presentation of service awards to teachers who marked milestone anniversaries in Catholic education this year. The longest serving milestone anniversary belongs to Ms. Annette Jay, a staff member at Cardinal Gibbons High School, who has worked in Catholic education for 30 years.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Different Where It Counts.” The objective of was to introduce the basic concepts of differentiated instruction, which is an educational approach that takes into account various learning styles and tendencies.
In his homily, Bishop Burbidge thanked the educators for their commitment to their students and families. “Your vocation is a blessing to them and the entire Church,” Bishop Burbidge said.
Noting the conference theme, the Bishop said, “As Catholic educators you understand that no one child is the same. Children bring different gifts, challenges and needs.”
“If we are going to help our students to utilize and to maximize their gifts for the building and the strengthening of the Body of Christ,’ the Bishop added, “we must reach out to them as Jesus did; not as a crowd, not as a number, but as a unique person, precious in the sight of God.”