HWCDSB: A Vision of Hope and Bold Action for Catholic Education
Hamilton, ON – Reflecting on the words of Pope Francis in his recent encyclical, On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ, re-elected Chairperson Patrick Daly, in his Initial Address at tonight’s (Tuesday, November 19, 2024) Initial Meeting of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, spoke of the “life-giving and hope-filled purpose of publicly funded Catholic education.”
While not diminishing a number of complex challenges, Daly commented on the promise rooted in the Board’s mission to “place Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church at the center of students’ learning experiences.”
"Visiting schools and administrative centres and witnessing the goodness of staff and students, I feel nothing but inspired and good about the future of our Catholic school system,” said Daly. He credited the faith-filled commitment of teachers, staff, and school system leaders who continue to support students through excellence in Christ-centered education.
As the Board begins its third year of this term of office, Daly outlined several priorities and expressed urgency in reading the “signs of the times” and encouraged prayerful listening and bold action. He highlighted the importance of engaging the Catholic community in the consultation process for the 2024-2027 Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP), inviting all to share their hopes and dreams. Commenting on the transformative power of prayer, Daly proposed increased resources to prioritize prayer to advance the dignity of the human person, adult faith formation, and mental well-being. He reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to completing its Equity Action Plan and Inclusive Education Policy, ensuring these initiatives remain rooted in our Catholic faith. Daly also stressed the importance of good stewardship, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability.
Reflecting on the Board’s proud tradition of innovation and bold action, Daly highlighted initiatives such as the Each Belongs philosophy, Adult and Continuing Education Centres, the De Mazenod Door outreach program, mandatory Elementary School uniforms and Equal Opportunity Schools.
Daly concluded his address with words of thanks to Bishop Crosby, his fellow Trustees, Director of Education David Hansen, Associate Director of Corporate Services Paola Pace-Gubekjian and members of Senior Administration, principals and vice-principals, teachers and school staff, administrative support staff, parents, parishes, and students. He praised their unwavering commitment to Catholic education and their collective role in shaping our Christ-centered school system.
“It is my prayer that our work this year, rooted in faith and bold action, continues to inspire hope and contributes significantly to the precious gift of publicly funded Catholic education,” Daly added.
In other business, Trustee John Valvasori was re-elected Vice-Chairperson of the Board. Trustee Mary Nardini was elected Chairperson of the Religion, Family Life and Faith Formation Committee and Trustee Mark Valvasori was elected Chairperson of the Student Achievement and Well-Being Committee.
