The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board recently welcomed 81 newly hired permanent Catholic teachers in a commissioning ceremony celebrating the unique mission of Catholic education. The event underscored the vital role of Catholic educators: teaching the Gospel message of Christ through word and action.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees Chairperson Pat Daly welcomed the recently hired teachers. He expressed gratitude to those gathered for generously responding to God’s call to serve as Catholic Teachers. He commented on the importance of their vocation and the increasingly valuable role Catholic Schools have in sowing the seeds of faith in young people.
Director of Education David Hansen also extended his best wishes on behalf of Senior Administration, thanking the teachers for answering the call of their vocation. “Catholic teaching is a profound vocation,” he noted, highlighting that the board’s mission and vision aim to enable all learners to realize the fullness of their humanity, with Jesus Christ as the model. “What an awesome responsibility,” he added.
During the commissioning, each new teacher was invited to light a candle, symbolizing their call to teach as Jesus did. Addressing the group, Hansen said, “Dear newly hired teachers of the HWCDSB, go and teach as Jesus did,” and then offered a prayer: “O God, the source of all wisdom and truth, guide and strengthen the teachers just now commissioned that they may teach their students with wisdom, understanding, courage, gentleness, faith, hope, love, and joy. May they work together to build school communities that are good, strong, effective, Christ-like—a leaven of justice, peace, and love in our needy world. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.”
OECTA Hamilton-Wentworth Elementary Unit President Joshua Mamer and Hamilton-Wentworth Secondary Unit President Sergio Cacoilo expressed words of welcome and best wishes on behalf of the elementary and secondary Catholic teachers of the Board.
