Earlier this year, the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario issued a Pastoral Letter for Catholic Education entitled Renewing the Promise. This is the third Pastoral Letter that the ACBO has issued in regard to Catholic Education. The first (issued in 1989), which followed the decision of the Ontario Government to grant full funding for Catholic education for all levels of primary and secondary education, established a clear and compelling mission for Catholic Schools. The second (issued in 1993), focused on the importance of leadership in this mission, and this third Letter reminds all of those who are involved in the mission that Catholic schools are - and always will be - places where children and young people may find solid and enduring values to give hope, meaning and purpose to life through an authentic relationship with Jesus.
This was Jesus' intention when he formed the first Catholic school: with his disciples. After having spent some time with them, teaching them about God's love for all people, he put them to the test: Who do people say that I am? (Lk 9:16) ... but he went further: But who do you say that I am? (Lk 9:20). This is the same for all of students who seek to learn the ways of Jesus.
Each one of us must ultimately answer the question: Who do I say that Jesus is? In order to do this, I must first have established a personal relationship with Him, and this is the gift that we pass on to all students, based on the Promise that is being renewed within each one of us every day.
Have a great day.
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