Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010

Jesus is the answer, Smith tells teachers at opening mass

WCR PHOTO | RAMON GONZALEZ Staff from Edmonton Catholic Schools packed the Winspear Centre Aug. 31 for the annual Mass opening the school year.

EDMONTON - The mission of Catholic education is to know, love and follow Jesus Christ, says the archbishop of Edmonton.

"In our Catholic schools the ultimate aim of our activity, the one goal that gives unity and purpose to all that we do is to lead our students to an encounter with Jesus Christ and indeed to encounter him together," Archbishop Richard Smith said Aug. 31.

"Jesus Christ is the answer to the question that is every human life. Each of our lives is a question and he is the answer; he alone is the answer because only he is God incarnate."

The archbishop spoke to most of the district's 3,000 staff at the school opening Mass of the Edmonton Catholic Schools at the Winspear Centre.

All of our questions find their answers in Jesus, Smith said during his homily. "It may be an answer that, while clear, remains a mystery, like the question of evil is raised by today's Gospel.

"There, Jesus manifests his power and authority over evil as he cast out the spirits. An episode that foreshadowed his definite victory over evil is his resurrection from the dead. Evil remains infinitely and obviously present in our world.

"(It's) a mystery, yes, but one that does not leave us without hope because we know the one whose love is more powerful."

Earlier in her welcoming address, superintendent Joan Carr extended a welcome to Father Michael Mireau, the district's district chaplain and recognized the staff at St. Catherine School who began their school year on Aug. 9.

She also acknowledged the district's three new schools: Msgr. Irwin, Msgr. Otterson and Sister Annata Brockman.

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