In Matthew 19:14, we are told by Jesus, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
As we prepare for the beginning of another school year, we hope that you enjoy the special coverage of our Catholic schools in this issue of the Catholic Courier. These articles showcase our vibrant school communities and the people who work to continue the beautiful tradition of Catholic education throughout our diocese. We thank God for the outstanding principals, administrators, teachers and staff in our schools and for the families and patrons who are committed to giving their children the gift of a Catholic education. We are truly blessed to bear witness to the mission of our schools; that is, the formation of our children in the Catholic faith through participation in dynamic communities of faith, knowledge and service.
In many ways, the Catholic-school experience can be summed up in the daily spiritual activities that are intricately woven into every school day. Starting in the spring of 2019, a diocesan-based project began with the idea to provide a glimpse into these often-intangible moments to unify and share the beauty of these faith-filled moments across our school communities. The resulting Diocese of Rochester Rosary Project launched at St. Mary School in Canandaigua following Catholic Schools Week and highlighted all 18 of our diocesan elementary schools throughout the school year, concluding at St. Michael School in Penn Yan during the last week of school.
The vision of the project was simple. Each school chose a week to lead the prayer of the holy rosary while it was livestreamed throughout the diocese on YouTube. When their turn arrived, the schools could design their offering of the rosary to highlight their students, school and faith traditions, creating a video recording that could be viewed and shared with anyone wanting to join the children in prayer.
The resulting video collection stands as a testament to the strength of our faith present in our youth. While each school added their own personality to their featured video, the ties of unity between each of our schools and reverence displayed by our students reminded us of the importance of faith, hope and love in living each day as Jesus Christ taught us.
This new approach to prayer builds on a rich history of Catholic education throughout our region. For generations, our schools have nurtured youth to grow into the people God created them to be by creating environments centered on our Catholic faith, having high standards of academic excellence and performing acts of service to others. As a new generation of learners embrace the truth of our Catholic faith, we can trust in the hope for a strong and faithful future throughout the Diocese of Rochester.
If you have chosen a Catholic education for your child, we hope that you will share your story and help us grow our ministry. If you would like to learn more about our schools, or inquire about registering at a school near you, visit www.dorschools.org, call our Catholic Schools Office at 585-328-3210 (toll-free 1-800-388-7177), or email schools@dor.org.
Enjoy the rest of the summer, and may God bless you and your families throughout the upcoming academic year!
Tauzel is coordinator of curriculum and instruction for the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools.
Tags: Catholic Schools
