Catholic School Community

We Welcome Our New Teachers

On 8-12-11 we welcomed and provided a day-long orientation and safe environment training for the protection of children to 125 teachers new to the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools. Although new to our schools, they come to us with varied levels of experience and are licensed professionals with a personal vocation, providing concrete witness to the model of Christ.

We all welcome these teachers new to our schools as they join our returning teachers in providing Catholic faith formation, rigorous academics, nurturing community, and reinforcement of the family environment to nearly 10,000 students.

Archbishop to Philly: Bittersweet

In South Dakota I owned and operated restaurants at the same time I was serving various positions in education. It's ironic that I catered the Archbishop's Episcopal Ordination in 1988: 5000 box lunches, a dinner for 600, and a reception for 400. I'm glad not to be doing that in Philadelphia!

Through a series of circumstances I worked with then Bishop Charles in Catholic schools. We scooted around Rapid City in my Honda, eating at McDonalds, and raising money for a new high school, which opened in 1991. I then served as Superintendent until he left to serve in the Archdiocese of Denver.

In 2001 , I came to Denver to serve as an Associate Superintendent and in a few years became Superintendent. Given this 20-plus year history with the Archbishop as friend and in service to the Church, the announcement--although not entirely unexpected--was very bittersweet. The bitter is that I will no longer be serving this wonderful and great man in his courageous and tireless ministry; the sweet is that my wife and I will always remain with him in friendship, and I think he is perfect for the Church in Philadelphia, led there through the Holy Spirit.

Gratitude for Benefactors

As we engage in the process of allocating over $3.5 million in grants for our schools for the 2011-12 school year, we are reminded to convey our gratitude and pray for our benefactors--including parishes throughout the Church of northern Colorado--who help keep our Catholic schools available, affordable, and accessible to as many families as possible. These grants are especially meaningful in that Catholic schools are often the only opportunity for economically disadvantaged young people to receive an education of quality that speaks to the development of the whole person.

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Seven of Seven

This is the seventh of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

"We need the enthusiasm of the young. In it is reflected something of the original joy God had in creating man. The young experience the same joy within themselves."

Principle Seven for Catholic Educators: See in children reflected something of the original joy God had in creating man and to reflect that enthusiasm and joy in your teaching.

 

 

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Six of Seven

This is the sixth of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

This is the sixth of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

"World Youth Days have become a great and fascinating witness that young people give of themselves. They have become a powerful means of evangelization. In the young there is, in fact, an immense potential for good and for creative possibility. And I always point out: “What I am going to say to you is not as important as what you are going to say to me. You will not necessarily say it to me in words; you will say it to me by your presence, by your song, perhaps by your dancing, by your skits, and finally your enthusiasm.”

Principle Six for Catholic Educators:  Believe that in youth there is immense potential for good and for creative possibility, and that in teaching children you convey “what I am going to say to you is not as important as what you are going to say to me, not necessarily in words.”  Know that as Catholic educators you have the honor and the responsibility to help develop the talents of every student to the fullest and to instill in them the enthusiasm and knowledge to evangelize the wider community in the name of the Gospel.

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Five of Seven

This is the fifth of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

As a young priest and pastor I came to this way of looking at young people and at youth, and it has remained constant all these years. Anywhere the Pope goes, he seeks out the young and the young seek him out. Actually, in truth, it is not the Pope who is being sought out at all. The one being sought but is Christ, who knows “that which is in every man” (cf. Jn 2:25), especially in a young person, and who can give true answers to his questions!

Principle Five for Catholic Educators:  Understand and nurture that the one being sought out by your students is Christ, who can give true answers to his/her questions.

 

 

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Four of Seven

This is the fourth of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

It is this vocation to love that naturally allows us to draw close to the young. It is necessary to teach them love. As a young priest I learned to love human love. This has been one of the fundamental themes of my priesthood – my ministry in the pulpit, in the confessional, and in my writing.

Principle Four for Catholic Educators:  Practice the vocation to love and teach the children love. Make it the theme of your teaching.

 

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Three of Seven

 

This is the third of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

During that time he searches, like the young man in the Gospel, for answers to basic questions; he searches not only for the meaning of life but also for a concrete way to go about living his life. This is the most fundamental characteristic of youth. Every mentor, beginning with parents, let alone every pastor (and teacher), must be aware of this characteristic and how to identify it in every boy and girl. I will say more: He (she) must love this fundamental aspect of youth.

Principle #3 for Catholic Educators: Be aware of, identify, and love, that each young person is searching for a concrete way to go about living her/his life, and teach accordingly. As a Catholic educator it is vital that we develop a rapport with students that is a prudent combination of familiarity and distance.  Educators can never forget that students need a companion and guide during their period of growth.

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Two of Seven

This is the second of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

"My most memorable experience of that period, when my pastoral activities concentrated above all on the young, was the discovery of the fundamental importance of youth. What is youth? It is not only a period of life that corresponds to a certain number of years, it is also a time given by Providence to every person and given to him as a responsibility." 

Principle Two for Catholic Educators:   Believe in and validate the fundamental importance of youth, as a time given by Providence –  not only a period in life but a responsibility that is developed and nurtured through your partnership with parents in the formation of the whole child.

 

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle One of Seven

This is the first of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

"The experiences of teachers and pastors confirm, today no less than yesterday, the idealism present in young people, even if nowadays it perhaps tends to be expressed mostly in the form of ciiticism, whereas before it would have been translated more simply into duty."

Principle One for Catholic Educators:  Know, nurture, and celebrate the idealism present in young people and help to intsill in them a sense of gratitude and duty.