One of the best gifts I have received in my life was an education in Catholic schools.
I was fortunate to attend Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and Aquinas High School, both in La Crosse, Wis.
Those 12 years of Catholic education made a great impact on my life. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was being evangelized.
Of all the titles he has held — bishop, archbishop, cardinal, and pope — Pope Francis says he prefers to be called “Father”.
“What I love is being a priest,” he has said.
On December 13, he will celebrate 50 years as a priest. He sees his ministry as being a shepherd who walks with his flock and yearns to find those who are lost.
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When Jesus was dying on the cross, one of the thieves being executed with him named Dismas — often called the good thief — turned to Jesus for mercy and asked, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).
Jesus turned to him and said, “This day you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
We have a national Catholic outreach among prisoners and those affected by crime named Dismas Ministry, which is headquartered in Milwaukee. Their logo represents the cross of Christ and the cross of the repentant criminal side of side.Dismas MinistryJesus turned to him and said, “This day you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). When Jesus was dying on the cross, one of the thieves being executed with him named Dismas — often called the good thief — turned to Jesus for mercy and asked, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).
My 12 years of education at Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and Aquinas High School in La Crosse prepared me well for life.
I received an excellent academic education, but more importantly, I learned about my Catholic faith and how to put it into practice in serving others.
But while my education was good for me personally, I didn’t realize at the time that our Catholic schools are also a gift to our country.
It was quite exciting for me to hear that the Catholic bishops of the United States gave their assent to the canonization effort launched for Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA, during their recent meeting in Baltimore.
When my 91-year-old mother-in-law Ruth died last year, she suggested that people give memorials to Aquinas High School in La Crosse, her alma mater. She believed she had an excellent education at Aquinas, and she wanted to ensure that it remained around to educate future generations.
That is one way we can support our Catholic schools. Many of us experienced top-notch educations at our Catholic elementary and high schools as I did. We continue to support these schools with our time, talent, and treasure. Many of us are also parents of students who attended Catholic schools, and we support those schools, too.
My 12 years attending Catholic schools — eight in elementary school and four in high school — definitely helped shape the person I became in life.
I received an excellent academic education in the Catholic schools I attended, but I benefited from much more than that. My teachers — clergy, Religious, and lay — also taught me about my faith and how to live it out in daily life. I learned the importance of service to others and how to be a leader. And all of these things helped me succeed in life, not only professionally but as a person.
During my own 12 years of Catholic school education, students were encouraged to be involved in service projects at school, in our parishes, and in our communities.
I can still remember Aquinas High School students in La Crosse in 1965 sandbagging along the Mississipi River. Severe flooding had caused the river to crest at 16 feet, nearly four feet above flood stage. Many students came out to help save the community.
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• I’m a student, not a number.
• They really care about me.
• I’m more outgoing, not shy anymore.
• The expectation is excellence. We set high standards in reading and writing.
• Academics are rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• We preach the Good News.
• When you come out of a Catholic school, you know what service is.
These are just some of the comments made by students and teachers at Catholic schools in a YouTube video called “Catholic Schools/Now More Than Ever” produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
It is obvious that the students and teachers on the video believe in what they’re saying. They speak with a lot of enthusiasm about their experiences at their school.
The United States of America owes a great debt of gratitude to Catholic schools. From the early days of our country, Catholic schools educated the immigrants in this land (along with even some of the Native Americans).
As our country became a nation, Catholic schools continued to provide an outstanding education in both faith and academics to all citizens. Catholic schools have a proud tradition which is carried on today.
