Prays for leaders of tomorrow

January 22, 2004

Dear Friends of Catholic Education:

We celebrate Catholic Schools Week, 2004! This occasion reminds us each year of the purpose of Catholic education. Catholic Schools are challenged daily to build "A Faith-Filled Future" by reflecting gospel values in interactions, through the content and methods of teaching the curriculum, and in collaborative efforts with all members of the faith community who serve our youth. Parents, students, teachers, parishioners, and administrators all have reason to celebrate, and to renew and accept the challenge to educate our youth in the ways of faith.

We build on the faithful past of our ancestors. We pray in gratitude for their vision, sacrifices, and will to insure the "future," our present. We pray gratefully for all who are participating today in building the future through educating faith-filled, active citizens. The prophets, servants, and teachers of the Catholic school faith community are all around us today, as in the past. We ask God to bless us as we lead, teach, serve, learn, and worship in our Catholic Schools. We are the faith-filled ancestors of tomorrow!

We celebrate Catholic Schools Week in faith because Jesus is our Teacher, in hope because Jesus has given us the promise of His presence, and in love because of Jesus' unconditional love for each of us.

Sincerely in the Divine Teacher,
Sister Joan Stoffel, OSF
Director of Curriculum