ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Bishop McFadden,
Dear brother Priests,
Dear Deacons, Catholic Educators, Students, Friends in the Lord,

Praised be Jesus Christ now and forever!

It is with these words that I greet all of you this morning, especially you dear teachers and collaborators in the Secondary Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, as we gather on this feast of the Presentation of the Lord to celebrate the Eucharist. I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak with you about our schools and about your vocation as Catholic Educators, your important role as partners in the mission of the Church, which is to communicate fully the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I desire to encourage you in your work of forming our young people in the Catholic faith and in authentic Christian living. I wish to express to each of you my deep gratitude for the commitment and sacrifices that you make to teach in our Catholic schools.

The liturgy speaks to us today about Christ as the light of the world. At the beginning of this Mass we blessed candles that the Church will use in her celebrations throughout the year. By the use of these candles the Church reminds us that Jesus Christ enlightens us and calls us out of the darkness of sin and despair into the wonderful light of His life with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. It is through Jesus Christ that we share on earth in the life of the Most Blessed Trinity and are given the gift of eternal life in heaven. It is through the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus that all of life has meaning and purpose.

In the Gospel of today’s liturgy we encounter Simeon, a devout and pious man who spent his whole life seeking to understand the ways of God and to know the meaning of life. We also encounter Anna, a prophetess, an elderly woman who was a widow and, in a real sense, at that time in history, among the poorest of the poor. She was in the Temple day and night, awaiting the consolation of Israel and the fulfillment of the promises made through the prophets of the Old Testament.

The Gospel writer Luke tells us that Simeon and Anna were impelled by the Holy Spirit to come to the Temple that day when Mary and Joseph would bring their child to be consecrated to the Lord in accord with the Mosaic Law. On encountering Jesus they proclaim Him to be the fulfillment of all history. Simeon points to Jesus as "a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel." Anna tells all who have been waiting for the redemption of Israel that it will be accomplished in this Child.

Just as Simeon and Anna pointed to Jesus as the fulfillment of all the hopes of humanity and as the one who gives all life its meaning, so too every Catholic school is called to witness to this same truth.

During my visits to some of our Catholic schools, I have seen a sign that reads: "Jesus Christ is the reason for this school." It is precisely this truth that I wish to proclaim and reaffirm with you today. The mission of our Catholic schools is clearly to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and to help our young people to come to know Him and through Him to know their own human dignity and destiny.

It is so important for you as teachers in our Catholic schools to embrace Jesus as the center of history and of your own life. The purpose of Jesus in coming into the world was to reveal the Truth and to help us proclaim that Truth to others.

Catholic schools exist in order to assist the Church in her mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus. In doing so they are to reflect those truths and values that Jesus calls us to live as members of His Body, helping Him to build the kingdom of God on earth.

The Second Vatican Council in its "Declaration on Christian Education" asserted that "the Church’s involvement in the field of education is demonstrated especially by the Catholic School." The Council points out that the students of these schools are to live and grow in an atmosphere of freedom and charity. They are to learn to relate all human culture to the Good News of salvation so that the light of faith will illumine their knowledge of the world, of life and of mankind.

Back in 1972, the Bishops of the United States issued a Pastoral letter entitled "To Teach as Jesus Did." In that letter the Bishops pointed out that "Catholic education is an expression of the mission entrusted by Jesus to the Church He founded. Through education, the Church seeks to prepare its members to proclaim the Good News and to translate this proclamation into action. Since the Christian vocation is a call to transform oneself and society with God’s help, the educational efforts of the Church must encompass the twin purposes of personal sanctification and social reform in light of Christian values."

The Letter went on to state that "the educational mission of the Church is an integrated ministry embracing three interlocking dimensions: the message revealed by God...which the Church proclaims; fellowship in the life of the Holy Spirit...; service to the Christian community and the entire human community...."

This threefold purpose, dear Friends, continues today to be the focus of all our schools. It is so necessary that the message of Jesus be proclaimed clearly and effectively, especially for our young people. This is indeed what is accomplished by our Catholic schools through your help, your generous commitment and your dedicated efforts.

In our schools it is important that teachers allow the truth of the Gospel to shine in their lives and on their academic labors. In the concrete this means that when we approach an academic subject we do so from the perspective of a lively faith. When we help our children learn the mysteries of science we also help them to see the Creator who is at the center of all science and of all creation. When we teach them the social sciences they must know that the human race is not merely an accident of history but the story of people with a destiny and purpose. As they see the wonders of the universe unfold, they come to understand that in that universe they can discover God Himself and come to realize that the universe is His gift to us —a gift always to be respected, appreciated and protected.

In the way that we approach each student we recognize their human dignity and worth and help all in the school community to understand that we are called to be one family in Christ. Hopefully it can be said of each of our school communities what was said of the communities of the early Church: "See how they love one another." Today many of our young people come from families that are broken or dysfunctional. For many of them the home is no longer the safe haven that God intended it to be. When they come to our schools they need to find the love that all of us so deeply seek in our own lives. Our schools are places where the students are valued not mainly for their accomplishments or their talents. They are valued because each is a unique creation of God, possessing different gifts and talents and called to be a member of the family of God.

It is necessary that we teach our youth to be people for others, according to the teaching and example of Jesus. Hence we strive to engender in them an attitude of service toward all their fellow human beings. Society often encourages young people to focus only on their own pleasure and success. They are immersed in a culture that encourages them to be consumers, to value excessively material things and to exalt the self. Our challenge is made more difficult when such a message is promoted in the media. Thus our schools are called to be countercultural. As teachers you, dear Friends, are to be role models of the Christian life. Saint Paul reminds us: "Your attitude must be that of Christ." Your own generous self-giving will encourage your students to be generous in their service to others and to be willing to follow Christ in becoming the servant of all.

Our schools need to proclaim constantly the Gospel of Jesus in a manner which helps students achieve their potential and understand their rightful place in God’s family. We are doing this at a time when many forces seem to work against us. While we are not oblivious to the many problems and challenges that confront us, we go forward together in this work of Catholic education, relying on God’s help, trusting in the power of His grace.

As partners in this mission and in solidarity with the Lord Jesus, we are committed to do all we can to maintain our Catholic schools. We strive to be courageous in the face of challenges because we know we are not alone. That is why I desired to celebrate this Eucharist with you. In the Eucharist we recognize that Jesus is always with us and that He sustains all our efforts. The Eucharist draws the light of Christ to shine through us and through our united efforts as members of His Church.

Dear Friends: At the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple Simeon and Anna received light and hope from the Son of God and Savior of the world. This same Lord is the great source of light and hope for all Catholic education, for all those who benefit from it and for all those who collaborate in imparting it. May this celebration today confirm your hearts in the joy of being Catholic educators and in the fulfillment of knowing how important your partnership is in the mission of the Church—the mission of communicating Jesus and His way of life. Amen.