Mass Celebrates Catholic Schools
Twenty-eight Catholic communities of faith, knowledge and service from across the Diocese of Evansville came together Jan. 29 at St. Benedict Cathedral for the 2014 National Catholic Schools Week Mass. Bishop Charles M. Thompson welcomed students, faculty, staff and family from all 28 schools in the diocese, and those in attendance were treated to the joyous music of the “Catholic School Choir,” which featured students from every diocesan school and instrumentalists from Reitz Memorial High School, which co-hosted Mass with St. Benedict Catholic School.
2014 marks the 40th National Catholic Schools Week, and this year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” You can read features about each of those elements, written by diocesan Catholic school principals, in the Jan. 17, Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 issues of The Message.
“Our Catholic schools are meant to do all three,” Bishop Thompson said during his homily. He noted that one of the most important words in this year’s theme also is one of the smallest. “The theme is Faith, Knowledge AND Service,” he said, encouraging a standing-room-only crowd to join him in repeating the word multiple times. “If we truly learn the value of faith and grow our mind with knowledge,” he added, “that will necessarily lead us to service.
“At the core of our Catholic faith,” he continued, “we believe that everything we do, we do in the name of Jesus Christ. He is the reason for our schools and our communities. He is the reason we serve.”
Bishop Thompson also discussed the significant relationship between the day’s Mass readings and the mission of Catholic schools.
“In the first reading (2 Sam. 7:4-17), God chooses to speak to David through Nathaniel, a prophet,” he noted. “This is proof that we need each other, we need our communities.” As he discussed the day’s Gospel reading (Mark 4:1-20), the bishop offered the students an opportunity to think about their Catholic education. “Today’s Gospel is the parable of the sower,” he said. “The Word of God sows the seeds of faith, knowledge and service in all of us.
“What you do with those seeds is up to you,” Bishop Thompson added. “What kind of soil will we allow ourselves to be? The Church is calling each of us to use faith, knowledge and service to evangelize the world … to teach the world … to transform the world.”
He then suggests a significant requirement for any evangelization effort. “First, we must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” he said. “We can’t give away what we don’t have.”
This bishop recognized the pastors of the diocese’s Catholic school parishes, who concelebrated Mass with him. “Your pastors are here because they believe in the value of Catholic schools, and they do a tremendous amount of work in support of our schools.
“Take back with you the meaning of a Christ-centered witness,” he said in conclusion. “And remember that we celebrate our Catholic schools not just this one week every year, but every week.”
In his printed greeting to those attending Mass, Bishop Thompson recognized the seniors from the four diocesan high schools. “I pray,” he said, “that the benefits of Catholic school formation and education impress upon each of you the joy of a Christ-centered life in love of God and service to others.”
