Supplements

archived article

Catholic schools put faith in action

Editor’s note: Mike Kish is the principal at Immaculate Conception School in Columbia, one of the 33 Catholic schools in the Belleville diocese. The Messenger asked him to reflect on the mission and role of Catholic schools in the diocese. Following is his reflection.)

“Where ere the Catholic sun does shine,
There’s music and laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so,
Benedicamus Domino.”

This quote from Hillaire Belloc, Catholic apologist, who died in 1953, describes our relationship with the Church. We are at home in this world, but know it is an illusion to be entirely at home here. Being “Catholic” is about being different.

During Catholic Schools Week, the schools in our diocese and the nation will celebrate just as Belloc stated — shining our light by making the Catholic sun shine, enjoying our work and our mission and saying “let us bless the Lord.”
One of God’s greatest gifts to people is the gift of time. We all know we only give our time to what we value and love. Catholic schools are a strong statement that the Church believes in the commitment of time. Physically, parents raise children. Spiritually, children raise parents by reminding them they must light the way with faith.

As we study Jesus in our schools, we find he is the essence of spiritual leadership. Real leadership is not force — Jesus forced no one to follow him. He invited. He led by example. He had the ability to see beyond his current reality and make a road where there was none. Our task is the same: to be believers and belongers — as the psalmist says, the ability “to be a light in the darkness for the upright.”

Though educational research says religion boosts wealth and personal relationships, the Gospel way must make a difference – by lighting the way – “by teaching our children to assess what is right and wrong with their world, function within it, and decide to envision something better for it than power and profit at any cost.” (Sister Joan Chittister, OSB) Christianity ought to be a lever long enough to move the world. Being different is about being an agent of change.
Our diocese joins some 7,800 Catholic schools in the nation serving 2.36 million students and their families in the celebration. Catholic schools are a tremendous gift to our nation in providing “social capital,” saving billions in education tax dollars and broadening diversity. Catholic Schools Week is a celebration of gratitude to all who help support Catholic education. “Catholic Schools Light the Way! Benedicamus Domino!”

— Mike Kish, principal,
Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Columbia