Catholic Schools Week 2014 - For Vocations

Each day during Catholic Schools Week, we will post a reflection on the focus of the day centered around this year’s theme: "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service". You can find a complete list of the reflections here. The following reflection is from Fr. Joe Carey, CSC:

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord ends the Christmas Season and is the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. The first thing Jesus does is invite others to follow him. Peter and Andrew and Zebedee’s sons, James and John, are called to leave their jobs and what is familiar as fishermen and follow Jesus.  They are to leave everything to become disciples of Jesus and build the Kingdom of God. These followers discover they will be sent to proclaim the Good News and invite others to be part of Jesus’s mission.  We are also called and sent to continue this ministry.

Teachers in Catholic Schools also called to live a life of service by sharing knowledge and faith with students.  It is a ministry of love.  Blessed Basil Moreau encouraged the members of the Congregation of Holy Cross and their collaborators to make Christ know, loved and served.  This important work can be seen in Catholic Schools.

I saw it recently when I visited Bishop Dunne School in Dallas, Texas.  I shadowed a recent ACE grad.  Keaton teaches French, English and Art.  It was in a small Art class that I saw how this passionate teacher lives this mission. The students were doing water coloring of some objects and when they were finished, she asked them to critique each other’s work.  Some would see this as a negative process.  Keaton, however,  is teaching them how to do this in a nonjudgmental and negative way.  Each student did it from love and as a result they became aware of what was good and what could make the painting even better.

What I saw in Keaton’s classroom is repeated in Catholic Schools every day.  It is not about only sharing information and seeking results.  The teachers are following the call of Christ and helping students know they are loved and cared for.

Catholic Schools Week celebrates the dedication of educators who respond to the call of Christ to follow him by sharing faith and knowledge with their students and calling them to serve the needs of others. It is about receiving God’s love and giving it away.  Let us pray in thanksgiving this week for Catholic Schools.

Fr. Joe Carey, CSC is the Chaplain for the Alliance for Catholic Edcuation. Prior to joining the ACE family, Fr. Joe served in Campus Ministry for both the University of Notred Dame and St. Mary's College. He was also the Director of Vocations for the CSC order and taught at Notre Dame High School for six years.