News

Mass for Catholic Educators
Saint Francis of Assisi Church, Raleigh
September 19, 2008

This past week I attended a gathering with students from UNC Catholic Newman Center. As I was making the rounds, I spoke with a young man from out-of-state and asked him why he chose to attend UNC. He gave me the answer I am sure every educator would love to hear: “I love their basketball team!” I then asked him his plans for the future. He said that his dream was to return as a teacher to the Catholic high school he had attended, with the hope that he could do as much for young people as his teachers did for him. Then, I told him I would have an opportunity to speak today to a gathering of Catholic educators and asked, “What should I tell them?” He said, “Tell them thanks because students like me will always remember what they have done for us!”

It is indeed a great privilege for me on behalf of my brother priests, the parents, students and entire Diocese of Raleigh to express profound thanks to you, dear educators, and to all those involved in Catholic education. I am so very proud of our Catholic Schools. They provide our students with a broad-based curriculum that is academically sound. We can accept nothing less. Most important, our schools radiate our holy Catholic faith, and our Catholic identity is reflected in everything we do. After all, is that not the reason our parents make such sacrifices to send their children to our schools? Your vocation is a blessing to them and the entire Church.

As you are aware, the universal Church is celebrating the Year of Saint Paul. It is my hope that at every grade level we are committed to helping our students to learn more about Paul and to use his words for daily prayer and meditation. Today we celebrate the Votive Mass of Paul and I have chosen a few phrases from his First Letter to the Corinthians that have been proclaimed at Mass throughout this week. I believe they speak directly to you and your ministry as Catholic educators.

First, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am.” Paul is emphasizing to the Corinthians that we have all received spiritual gifts to be used for the service of the Church. We did not earn these gifts. They are given us to by our generous God. In the midst of your limitations and weaknesses, God entrusts you with the gift of assisting parents daily in the formation and education of their children. The Lord uses you as His instruments in ways you can never imagine. I am sure you can recall being told stories from former students of things you said and did for them yet do not remember; I am sure you can recall coming up with solutions to difficult situations in the classroom and finding the ability to say the right words at the right time. You can think of all those occasions when you found strength to persevere and to rise to the occasion and wonder where it came from. Paul reminds us today, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am.” Dear educators, you have been called to be for your students like the women in today’s Gospel who accompany Jesus in the proclaiming and teaching of the Gospel, and like Paul in today’s First Reading, who serves as a witness to Jesus’ power over sin, suffering and death. I encourage you to find time today to pause and to thank the Lord for the special vocation He has entrusted to you and to seek His constant help.

In that famous reading from First Corinthians we are also told, “Love is patient. Love is kind. It bears all things. Love never fails.” No doubt we have experienced the truth of Paul’s words. At the same time, as we carry out our daily responsibilities, we learn something else about love: It can be difficult! As Catholic educators, you know it is not always easy to deal with parents and guardians who are not always supportive or appreciative; with students who appear to be disinterested and uncooperative; and with superiors and peers who at times seem to be unreasonable or judgmental. It is not easy, but always possible. We look to the imitation of Jesus Christ, the perfect Model of love, the Friend of sinners, who embraced all as God’s children. We turn to Him not only for inspiration but for the grace we need to love one another as He has loved us. And that grace is given to us in a special way as we celebrate His presence in Word and Sacrament. In addition to that great gift, we are also given the promise that we must take to heart and remember each day: “Love never fails.”

Saint Paul, in his Letter to the Corinthians, also reminds us that although many, we are one body. I am so pleased that your theme for this Conference, “Different Where It Counts,” reflects this truth. As Catholic educators you understand that every child is unique. Children bring different gifts, challenges and needs. Your workshops emphasize that our curriculum and methodologies cannot be one master plan that fits all. If we are going to help our students to utilize and to maximize their gifts for the building and strengthening of the Body of Christ, we must reach out to them as Jesus did: not as a crowd, not as a number, but as unique persons, precious in the sight of God. At the UNC gathering the other night, the students took turns telling me what was so special about the Catholic Newman Center at Chapel Hill. One young woman stated, “Here, everyone is encouraged to contribute and everyone feels supported and special.” We pray that the same can be said of our school communities, as a reflection of the truth that we are the one body of Christ.

Today, I express renewed thanks to all of you for your generous and dedicated service. I also convey my ongoing and enthusiastic support for Catholic Education in the Diocese of Raleigh, and my sincere desire to assist and to support you in any way possible.

At this Eucharist and through the intercession of Saint Paul, we ask for the grace to go forth with a renewed commitment to love one another and to strengthen the Body of Christ, always remembering, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am.”