Last Updated: Monday - 09/27/2010

Our schools a sacred trust - Alberta Bishops

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is our duty and privilege to tell the next generation of the wonders of our God.

The power and the challenge of Catholic education must not be lost on us as we stand before the third millennium. The document Ecclesia in America calls upon us to ensure that our schools are centres of evangelization.

It states that "a special effort should be made to strengthen the Catholic identity of schools, whose specific character is based on an education vision having its origin in the person of Christ and its roots in the teachings of the Gospel" (art. 71).

The desire to prepare the young for the future cannot be fulfilled if we deny them a full and rich religious and spiritual education.

Yet, this work of Catholic education cannot happen without the support of the Church. "No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone. You have not given yourself faith, as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 166).

Catholic education participates in this communal dynamic of faith, in which we give to the children what we ourselves have received.

We share the longing of the psalmist who, despite old age and grey hairs, asks to be given the favour to proclaim God's might "to all the generations to come" (Psalm 71:8).

In this jubilee year we are given the extraordinary grace of a new beginning. It is a year of favour in which we could open wide the doors to Christ for the next generation, for the "encounter with the living Jesus Christ is the path to conversion, communion and solidarity" (Ecclesia in America, 7).

The next generation watches us. They wish to see for themselves exactly what we are setting as our most important priority.

If we say that it is Christ, but fail to demonstrate a living commitment to him in prayer, ministry, catechesis and worship, then they will not believe us. We cannot give to others what we ourselves do not possess.

This is a work of the whole Church, of her bishops, and priests, her parents and teachers, and of all the Christian faithful.

Therefore, we are grateful to all those who participate in the work of Catholic education, who serve the children, and fulfill for them the invitation of Jesus: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:14).

	Thomas Collins Archbishop of Edmonton
	Frederick Henry Bishop of Calgary
	Denis Croteau, omi Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith
	Lawrence Huculak, osbm Eparch of Edmonton
	Arth‚é Guimond Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan
	Walter Laliberty Diocesan Administrator Diocese of St. Paul

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter