This
past weekend, I was blessed and honored to represent ICS at the annual Catholic
Foundation Dinner in support of tuition assistance for
Catholic education within the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
The evening focused
heavily on two very important issues:
1. The power of Catholic
schools
2. The importance of this
power being made available to all
The first focus - the
power of Catholic schools - was a topic common to just about all of the
speakers. Many answered the question, "How has your life been changed
because of Catholic education?" From the essay contest winner - a student
from Bishop Larkin who lost his father a few years ago to cancer; to the
keynote speaker - Lino Rulli, known as "The Catholic Guy" on
Sirius Radio; to the Catholic Education Leadership Award winner - Scott Riley,
a prominent business man, graduate of Mary Help of Christians and stout
supporter of Step Up for Students; all touched on the fact that the environment
created in their respective Catholic schools changed them for good and for the
good.
The student from Bishop
Larkin found the strength of community during a confusing, emotional and
disheartening time of his life. Lino found the depth of faith after his
roommate during his junior year of college died. Scott found the compassion of
others during his time at Mary Help of Christians - he was able to go there
thanks to a generous donor and it was there that he learned of the importance
of helping others.
In each case, the power
wielded by their respective Catholic schools, changed them for good and for the
good.
As is written
in The Catholic School:It is when the Catholic school adds its weight, consciously and overtly, to the liberating power of grace, that it becomes the Christian leaven in the world (#84).
The second topic, the
importance of making this type of transformative education available to all,
was nearly just as important. The evening will probably bring in over $500,000
for tuition assistance across our diocese. Additionally, a heavy emphasis was placed
on the good being done by Florida's Tax Credit Scholarship - Step Up for
Students, and how this good is in jeopardy of being taken away because of a
lawsuit being filed by the Florida Teachers Union and the NAACP
(#dropthesuit). The pastoral and missionary aspects of Catholic education
were highlighted, celebrated and encouraged.
We teach our students not
because they are Catholic, but because we are Catholic.
We plant the seeds of
faith and justice and peace and wisdom and compassion.
We change lives.
For
good and for the Good.
