On January 31, Catholic School Council Chairs joined principals, priests, trustees and senior administration for the annual Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board Catholic School Council breakfast.
In the opening liturgy, His Excellency Bishop Douglas Crosby offered praise and thanks for the transformative impact of Catholic education and the contributions parents make.
“What you're doing is preparing people for a life where everyone is lifted up.”
Bringing greetings on behalf of the Board of Trustees, Chairperson Patrick Daly thanked Catholic School Council Chairs for “placing Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church at the center of Catholic education.”
“In the context of Catholic education today, I believe more than ever, our church, our families, and most especially our students, need to see us and we need to be seen as one – to be united in our shared commitment to preserve and promote Catholic education.”
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I thank all of you for your presence today and most especially for the tremendous Christian witness you provide to the Catholic school communities you serve.”
His words were echoed by Director of Education David Hansen who, in greetings, referenced a trilogy of letters written by the Bishops of Ontario emphasizing the true essence of Catholic education.
Underscoring the importance of bearing witness to Christ, Hansen added that the true measure of a Catholic school's worth lies in the deeds and actions of its community.
“When our students, your children, bear witness to Christ, when they dream noble aspirations that will change our world, and when they stand up and give an account of hope that is within, that is the best of Catholic education, and that's where the difference lies.”
“I thank you, our Catholic School Council Chairs, Vice Chairs, and all our parents for recognizing the ‘more’ that Catholic Education offers, and more importantly, for nurturing that more.”
In an inspiring keynote address, Father Mark Gatto asked attendees to consider the message, "I will never forget you," from Isaiah 49, as a vision for Catholic education.
“All schools and all education are primarily about children...of course, that's the priority,” he said.
“So, one of the key goals for our children in a Catholic school should be that by the end, they come to know and believe that they are loved by God. The whole environment of a Catholic school should help them to hear that word of God, “I will never forget you.’”
Catholic School Council Chairs, and parents, play a fundamental role in making sure kids get that message.
“Parents are the key to someone knowing and believing that there is a God and a God that loves them.”
