Reflections on Catholic Schools Week

With the celebrations of Catholic Schools Week completed and the prospect of another cold weekend ahead of me I am spending some time this Friday afternoon reflecting. With all the thoughts zipping through my head the one feeling I keep returning to is one of amazement. I will elaborate.

I was amazed by my students this Monday as we opened Catholic Schools Week at Mass at 9AM on Monday. They are always well behaved but they were more prayerful and reverent than usual. Several parishioners in attendance stopped me to acknowledge their behavior and congratulate me on the “fine students” that I have.

I was amazed by my teachers again this week. Their willingness to do whatever it takes to motivate, stimulate and educate their students is inspiring. They are the ones to be congratulated when our students behave so well in church.

I was amazed by the parents of our students. This week many hours were sacrificed to make each of our school events celebrating Catholic Schools Week a great success. Our parents sacrifice so much and do so willingly time and time again. I often use that word: “sacrifice.” This week one of the parents corrected me. She said, “Mr. Keenan, it is not a sacrifice. It is a privilege.”

I was amazed by our Pastor, Msgr. Moore, again. He took time out of his week to support our school and students, again. He traveled with me to Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains to join other pastors and priests, principals and parents throughout the county at a Political Forum. The purpose of the Forum was to ask for the assistance of our local legislators. We need their help in the fight against the Governor’s proposed to Mandated Services that I have written about previously in the bulletin. If there is another Pastor more supportive of Catholic Education in this Archdiocese I have yet to meet him in my 20 years as a Catholic Educator.

I finish this week with an invitation. I invite families in our parish to come visit our parish elementary school. You will witness for yourself the work we do, the spirituality of our students, the willingness of our teachers and the amazement felt by those who believe in our school.

God bless each and every one of our parishioners. May Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary watch over you and yours throughout the New Year.