Bishop Asks Students To Recognize
Bishop Charles C. Thompson began his homily during the Aug. 18 Mass at Jasper’s Precious Blood Parish – for Dubois County’s new Holy Trinity Catholic School – by asking students what they like best about their new school. One of the youngsters answered, “the Sign of the Cross.”
“Every time you make the sign of the cross,” the bishop said just a few minutes later, “you’re making the sign of the Holy Trinity. Every time we make the sign of the cross, every time we pray the Glory Be, we are praising the Holy Trinity. A lot of prayers at Mass are about the Holy Trinity.
“Your school name is at the center of our catholic faith,” he added. It will always remind you of how important God is to your lives, to your education and to our faith.”
Other students told Bishop Thompson they liked the sister who was their music teach, the new friends they have made and going outside. Another told him that lunch is better at the new school. They seemed, collectively, to believe that getting their bearings – knowing where things are and where they need to go for classes and other activities – represent the biggest challenges.
“What you have done here has been great,” the bishop said. “Everyone has done a great job of making this happen. But we need to remember how we did it. You have a lot of great minds, a lot of great leadership and a lot of great faith here.”
He explained that the day’s readings speak to “what we can acknowledge for giving us Holy Trinity Catholic School.”
The first reading – Judges 6: 11-24 – recounts the story of an angel of God appearing to Gideon and telling him he will lead God’s people out of their troubles.
“ Gideon says he is from the lowest family, and is the lowest among the family – he recognizes that he is the least likely person that God would use to do something so great,” Bishop Thompson said. “And God did just that. God used Gideon to carry out God’s will in helping His people to know peace and freedom again.
It’s a reminder to us that sometimes we think someone can do something better than us. But like Gideon, if we trust in God, great things can happen.”
The bishop then discussed the day’s Gospel reading – Matthew 19: 23-30.
“Jesus even says in the gospel today, Where it’s impossible for us as human beings, it’s always possible for God.,” he explained “Holy Trinity School is one example of what is always possible if we put our faith in God. Whatever the challenges and struggles and difficulties were, getting to this moment was by God’s grace, and the faith of your families, your teachers, your priests and everyone – to trust that God would help you make this change and come together like this.”
As he concluded, Bishop Thompson noted that the theme for Diocese of Evansville Catholic schools this year is “Christ the Cornerstone.”
“Jesus is the center,” he said, “and we’re building everything else around Him. Whatever we do, we keep Christ at the center. That makes us good Christians and good citizens.
“We have a wonderful new beginning here at Holy Trinity based on our love for God and our faith in Jesus Christ,” he continued. “Keep that focus, and I bet you’ll never regret it. I hope you have a wonderful year, and continue to pray as a school and as individuals. Begin and end every prayer with the sign of the Holy Trinity. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit … Amen.”
Holy Trinity Catholic School serves all 11 parishes in Dubois County and has three campuses: the Central Campus, serving preschool through second grade, at Precious Blood Parish; the East Campus, serving third through eighth grades, at Holy Family Parish in Jasper; and the West Campus, service preschool through prekindergarten, at St. Mary Parish in Ireland.
