Message from our Administrator

On August 3, over 400 Catholic school teachers gathered, for the first time in three years, to prepare for the new school year. The atmosphere was, simply put, contagiously joyous, positive and optimistic. Our Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Dr. Mark Williams, and our Associate Superintendent, Gerrie Byrne, chose as the theme for the day, and the year ahead, the message from 2 Corinthians 5:20: “We are Ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.”
 
The day opened with holy Mass, at which I was delighted to be accompanied by nine priests who, (representing all of our priests), came to honor our teachers, and all school staff, who worked so heroically through COVID-19 and Hurricane Ida, to provide a safe space for our children, despite contending with their own families’ needs and fears. The children’s choir from St Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Thibodaux lifted our spirits with their beautiful singing! For their presence and guidance to the children and parents during the COVID-19 period, our teachers and school staffs deserve our deepest gratitude and respect.    
 
It was emphasized that the teaching of our children should begin and end with the Eucharist, the sacrament and sacrifice of thanksgiving, for the gift of Christ himself, and his calling us to be his Ambassadors! In this regard, the teachers were commissioned to ensure that Christ is the hidden teacher in all of our classrooms, and that the priority in every class is to form the character of each child entrusted to our care. This means that every subject taught is rooted in the Gospel values of justice, truth, love and peace!

The beginning of a new school year is an opportunity for us all to reflect that, through baptism, we are called to be Ambassadors for Christ! For us to fulfill that commission we need to make the Eucharist (holy Mass) central to our daily lives. As already mentioned in this column, we are now in a period of eucharistic revival. After a long absence from Sunday Mass, due to COVID-19, some have become comfortable with Mass on TV! But there is no substitute for communal celebrations.

As we know, our country and world are suffering many ills at this time, and what is most needed is a return to prayer, reverence and respect for each other, conversations that are inclusive, tolerance, patience and peace! Sunday Mass is a wonderful opportunity for an hour of slowing down, praying and finding that peace The beautiful prayer of Jesus after the Our Father, “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you” should burn in our hearts as we leave Mass! In turn, this helps us to face the coming week with a disposition of good will!
 
Our Holy Father, Francis, recently issued a beautiful Apostolic Letter to all of us and it is worth reading and absorbing! It shows how we would be drawn irresistibly into the Eucharist if we truly dwelt on the mystery we celebrate. He says, “The Liturgy gives glory to God, not because we can add something to the beauty of inaccessible light within which God dwells (cf1Ti 6:16). Nor can we add to the perfection of the angelic song which resounds eternally through the heavenly places. The liturgy gives glory to God because it allows us – here on earth – to see God in the celebration of the mysteries, and in seeing him to draw life from his Passover. We, who were dead through our sins have been made alive again with Christ – We are the glory of God.” What an astoundingly beautiful grace it is to know that and to celebrate it at every Mass.

And back to our children, the future of our church and nation, we need to recall that, at their baptism the parents undertook to be the first teachers of the faith, the first Ambassadors of Christ, to the child! I pray that through Sunday worship of our Lord, at the table of the Eucharist, all will grow in wisdom and grace. For the glory of God and the renewal of faith in our families and diocese, let’s all go back to the school of Nazareth this fall. Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.