Catholic Schools Week: 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Note: I gave two different homilies this weekend as we celebrated the opening of Catholic Schools Week at our 10:30 Mass.  I have posted both.

(Listen to this homily here).

           I have been in schools almost my entire life.  My parents were both teachers in health and phy. ed.  Dad taught me in driver’s training and Mom taught me in a class you adults will know.  For now I will simply call it “Values and Choices”.  Scarring!

            Following high school, I went to college to become a teacher, then I spent forever in seminary studying to be a priest!  Finally I became a priest, and both my first and current assignment I was blessed to be part of a Catholic elementary school.

            As we begin Catholic Schools Week I want you to know how grateful I am for all of our teachers, both those at St. Thomas Aquinas and our surrounding schools.  I know we have many teachers, coaches and other school staff in our midst who are helping form our kids.  I am a firm believer that teaching is not a career or a job—it is a vocation.  Thank you for your yes to teach!

            [To our students].  Happy Catholic Schools Week!

            I have a simple question for you this morning: what is your favorite part about being at St. Thomas Aquinas?  [Silence]…It could be…your priest?!  I like free time!  Free time?!  We need more work time!  I’ll have to tell the teachers to give you more homework!  Recess.  Now there’s a good one.  After religion and math, recess is the best class.  Mass.  Yes!  Jesus!  Ha!  That’s our standard answer for our Wednesday Masses.  When in doubt—it’s Jesus.

            I have said since I arrived here that our mission for our school is simple: Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them.”  Here is something I have been thinking about as my highlight for our school.  How many days are you in school?  170.  And you are there seven hours a day?  Yep.  Well if I do some quick math, this is 1,190 hours for the year.  You come to St. Thomas Aquinas almost one thousand two hundred hours!  We are striving to make these hours, days, weeks and months periods that are saturated with Jesus’ love as we form your children academically and spiritually.

Thank you, parents for sending your kids to our school—and to our other faith formation programs.  We thank God for the great honor it is to serve you, your families and your children.  Know of our prayers and please continue to pray for the success of St. Thomas Aquinas School!