The home of the Institute for Educational Initiatives has been re-christened “Visitation Hall” in honor of a beautiful stained glass window that depicts the joyful reunion of Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. In many ways, the story of the Visitation beautifully captures the joy inherent in the ACE community. Mary is entrusted with an astonishing task, and Mary’s joy is fortified by her embrace and solidarity with Elizabeth. Overcome with gratitude Mary praises God in the extraordinary Magnificat prayer, and she goes forth to live out her vocation with joyful obedience. In the same way, ACE teachers and leaders undertake the great mission of strengthening Catholic schools, are fortified by the love that abounds throughout the ACE community, gather together to praise Christ the Teacher, and go forth in joy to lives of service in Catholic schools.
In the summer, Visitation Hall and Carole Sandner Hall (the home of ACE) are bursting with activity in the form of workshops, conferences, and classes which bring together educators from across the country and overseas for the common mission of Catholic schools.
This photo essay captures the joy that animates the final weeks of ACE summer as the IEI and full ACE community celebrate our shared mission to children through prayer and solidarity.
The home of the Institute for Educational Initiatives has been re-christened “Visitation Hall” in honor of a beautiful stained glass window that depicts the joyful reunion of Mary and her cousin Elizabeth.
Bishop Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, celebrated Mass at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes with ACE teachers, Remick leaders, and over 100 pastors from Catholic schools across the country. He offered these words of inspiration, “The unique mission of Catholic schools is to be explicitly intentional and integrative of all things human (natural) and all things divine (Grace) as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ through the lived witness of the community of the Church.”
Remick Leaders presented their action research projects to the broader education community and keynote speaker, Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos, Superintendent of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida, encouraged these leaders to go out and animate the Catholic schools they serve.
The Visitation is a joyful reunion of Mary and Elizabeth, and nowhere is a similar joy more apparent than the reunion of the graduating ACE Teaching Fellows cohort for their Commencement Retreat. Members of ACE 19 joined in prayer and much laughter as they reflected on their ACE experience and the exciting future ahead.
Summer lunches in the dining hall are a great opportunity to witness the wide reach of the ACE community. At any given table you will find ACE teachers sitting alongside professors and members of the ACE team as they celebrate the joys and challenges of each day.
The completion of the summative poster project for second-year ACE teachers is always an occasion of joy, and this year’s ACE 20s made an impressive showing. Posters were supplemented with iPad presentations and science labs were demonstrated live.
Answering Christ’s call to welcome the immigrant church is at the heart of the English as a New Language (ENL) program. Teachers worked independently and collaboratively to develop the expertise to work with students whose primary language is not English.
An annual tradition of fun competition, the ACE Store basketball games bring the community together with big cheers and a lot of sweat and hard work.
Honoring and celebrating those who have created and innovated on behalf of our neediest students is a blessing. You can read about these amazing Catholic school educators and advocates here: http://ace.nd.edu/news/ace-to-present-awards-for-excellence
The beauty in the story of the Visitation is that two women celebrate a secret joy which will soon be made known to the world: the birth of John the Baptist and of Jesus. In the same way, ACE teachers reveal their hidden gifts at the annual Talent Show, filled with laughter, song, camaraderie, and fond farewells.
On the final day of the ACE summer, ACE teachers and leaders are missioned, going forth to share the joy of the Gospel with the children that they serve in dioceses, neighborhoods, and schools across the country.
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