ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Brother Bishops and Priests,
Dear Deacons, Religious,
Administrators and Teachers in our Elementary Schools,
Members of the Secretariat of Catholic Education,
My dear Collaborators and Friends in our Lord Jesus Christ,

During this Catholic Schools Week, our thoughts go to our students and to all those who from the beginning of our Catholic schools have done so much in the cause of Catholic education at all levels. We think of our pioneers, the men and women of vision and generosity, who have given of themselves to that the youth of each generation may receive the legacy of faith through Catholic education. We think of all our parishes, priests and parishioners, parents and educators—past and present—who through love and sacrifice have promoted, supported and sustained Catholic schools, helping thousands upon thousands of children and young people come to a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ and live upright Christian lives.

It is a joy and privilege therefore to be at this Mass with all of you who gather especially from the Bucks County and Philadelphia North and South Vicariates. Our celebration of the Eucharist is the supreme expression of gratitude to God for the many contributions and sacrifices you make to advance Catholic education. Catholic schools light the way and you light our Catholic schools.

It is particularly appropriate that we gather on this feast of Saint John Bosco. Don Bosco, as he was called, had a great love for children. He felt drawn to minister to the unfortunate boys who roamed the streets. He opened a boarding school and provided vocational training. In a short time he was working with over 500 boys enabling them to develop skills as carpenters, bookbinders, tailors and printers.

Don Bosco’s love for children was a reflection of that deep love Jesus has for children. Today’s Gospel is one of a number of biblical accounts in which Jesus expresses how special children are. In a response to a question about who is great in the Kingdom of God, Jesus holds up a child as an example for His disciples. Greatness in the Kingdom of God is measured by willingness to become like an innocent child. Failure to do so is a barrier for entry into the Kingdom of God.

The Gospel makes clear that encounters with children are special moments. They are unique opportunities for an encounter with Christ himself. Jesus reveals that "Whoever receives one child in my name receives me." When we receive a child, we receive Jesus into our lives. As teachers in Catholic schools you have the privilege of working constantly with children. By receiving them you receive Jesus.

As teachers, elementary school educators, you manifest Christ’s concern for young people and collaborate with the Church in seeking their well-being. By your sacrifice and love, you enable them to experience Christ’s love. "Young people," Pope Benedict XVI has said, "must feel loved by the Church. In this way, they will experience, in the Church, Christ’s love for them. In turn they will learn to love the Lord and to trust in his Body, which is the Church" (Address of Pope Benedict XVI to the Italian Bishops, May 30, 2005).

You, dear friends, must be witnesses of Christ to your students. This morning, in his Letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul tells us: "Your kindness should be known to all." You are the image of God and through your work and example you manifest the presence of God to students who often have difficulty finding him. You make God visible and offer students access to him.

Catholic schools provide young people with a broad-based curriculum that is academically rigorous. We can accept nothing less. However, Catholic schools are not simply institutions which offer high quality academic instruction. They are effective vehicles of total Christian formation and form part of the saving mission of the Church. The dimension of faith, our holy Catholic faith, is the most distinguishing characteristic of the education we provide. It is the primary reason that parents send their children to Catholic schools. A strong Catholic identity must exist, and not only in religion class. A Catholic culture must permeate the entire curriculum, the building, and most of all the people in the school. What is so exhilarating for you to realize is that the Catholic identity of your school begins with you and your personal witness of faith.

In his most recent encyclical "On Christian Hope," Pope Benedict suggests that life is like a voyage on the sea of history. On that voyage we watch for the stars that indicate the route. The true stars of our lives are the people who have lived good lives. They are lights of hope. Jesus Christ is the true light, but to reach him we also need lights close by, people who shine with His light and so guide us along our way.

You are lights, dear educators, for your students. Through your teaching, students learn a variety of subjects. Even more, they come to know God. By your words, and especially your actions, you guide them to a deeper relationship with Jesus. Your life, your example of living faith, is your most effective contribution as a teacher. Students hear what you say, they believe what you do.

We all know that the teaching vocation is not easy. It is time-consuming and, at times, exhausting. Since it entails many sacrifices, it is easy for one to become discouraged when students seem indifferent to the subject matter and when the fruits of one’s labor are not immediately visible. A number of the students you teach, and their families, profess no religion or belong to other religious traditions. Some are baptized Catholics for whom the spark of faith has grown dim and who are living on the margins of the Church. What an important role you play in their lives!

Saint Paul offers encouragement. In his Letter to the Philippians he writes, "Keep on doing what you have learned and received." It is important that you persevere. Your model is Christ Himself, who suffered for us and with us. It is through union with Jesus that sacrifice becomes meaningful and faith matures. The saints were able to undertake great sacrifice because of what Christ had done before them. Saint John Bosco is just one example. He worked with marginal students who often disappointed him, refused to cooperate and even stole from him. He persevered because he united himself with Christ in the midst of his trials. Rooted in God’s love, he found strength not merely to endure, but to succeed.

The true measure of humanity is essentially determined by the capacity to sacrifice for a greater good. Love always requires painful renunciation of ourselves for others. You show how much the students matter to you by your willingness to sacrifice out of love for them. You give the gift of yourself so that they might become the people that God truly wants them to be.

The sacrifices you offer for your students provide an inspiration for them. They need witnesses who have given totally of themselves to show them the way. By preferring goodness to comfort in the choices you make each day, you show them how to live life to the full. You give them courage to place themselves on the side of good even in difficult situations. By your teaching and sacrifice, you demonstrate your hope for them, and in so doing, you give them hope for themselves and their future.

To persevere as a witness for Christ in the face of so many challenges requires a close personal relationship with Jesus. In order for us to bring Jesus to others, Jesus must first be at the core of our own lives. This is possible only through prayer and the sacraments. These are the foundation for perseverance in any Christian vocation. Saint Paul encourages the Philippians to devote themselves to prayer. He writes, "By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

There is no more effective prayer than the Eucharist. It is the most powerful means for achieving union with Jesus. The Eucharist is at the heart of who we are as teachers. It is the font from which the teaching ministry draws its life. It is the purpose for which all Catholic education exists.

In the Eucharist, Jesus does not give us a thing, but Himself. In the Eucharist He is near to us and we experience what Saint Paul refers to as "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding." United with Christ, we should have no anxiety. His love alone enables us to persevere day by day. His love guarantees our hope for the future. You, dear friends, face the challenges related to the Church’s teaching mission with the assurance that Jesus accompanies you on the journey. You have the joy of knowing that you are not alone in this wonderful vocation, this important mission.

The Eucharist transforms us. We become what we have received, Christ Himself. The Eucharist empowers us to a love of others and commits us to bear witness to God’s love through our words and actions. Your vocation as teachers, as educators is so vital. Through the Eucharist, you become the means by which God’s love and compassion reach students. This is what offers you a great sense of fulfillment.

There is so much to be grateful for today. In the name of the Archdiocese, I express my deep thanks, first of all, to the parents who have entrusted the education and formation of their children to our Catholic schools. I am grateful for the support of the entire Catholic community who by their prayers and financial generosity enable our schools to accomplish their mission. Today, I express particular appreciation to all who teach and serve in the elementary schools of this Archdiocese. You have given generously of yourselves to advance the teaching mission of Christ’s Church.

Catholic schools light the way because of people like you. You communicate so much more than know-how. You help form human beings who know and love God and seek the well-being of others. Young people of the third millennium must be a source of energy and leadership in our Church and our nation. Hence, we depend upon you to set high academic standards and instill a spirit of faith and values rooted in Christ. By equipping our young people with an education, rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, you ensure that they have the foundation to live moral and upright lives in our complex modern world.

The future of the world and the Church belongs to the younger generation. We are proud of our students. The tendency to do good is very strong in young people. So many of them, however, look to you for encouragement. Our families and the whole Archdiocese of Philadelphia need you and your commitment.

At this time I wish to affirm you and your commitment to Catholic education. I thank you for the many sacrifices you make on behalf of the children that God places before you. Dear educators: we entrust you, the students whom you teach and all our Catholic schools to the patronage of Mary, Seat of Wisdom. Through her maternal intercession, may our Lord Jesus Christ confirm you all in strength and joy as you generously serve the children whom He loves so much. Amen.