In a prayer often misattributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero (actually penned by Bishop Ken Untener), one line in particular resonates with me and the work that God has called us to do as Catholic school leaders:
"No statement says all that could be said."
The work of Catholic school leadership takes multiple iterations and constant reinforcement. As leaders, we should create clarity, overcommunicate clarity, and reinforce clarity.
In this way, we recognize that our ministries consist of a series of reminders, follow-ups, reiterations, and repetitions. In this spirit, my previous post about the line-up of saints whose feasts we celebrate this week, failed to recognize a giant within the landscape of Catholic education whose feast we celebrate today: St. Angela Merici.
No statement says all that could be said.
And while even this message will leave something out and be incomplete, God calls us to say it anyway.
St. Angela Merici, founder of the Ursuline sisters, reminds us in this week dedicated to celebrating Catholic Schools of the enormous contribution of religious women in establishing, developing, and sustaining Catholic education in our country and across the world.
From St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, to St. Frances Cabrini, to St. Katharine Drexel, to St. Julie Billiart and beyond, religious women played a large part in creating the network of Catholic schools in America. At first, this started as the preservation of faith and culture while educating students to find success in our young country. This ministry of Catholic education has since evolved into serving and evangelizing students from all background while maintaining high standards of academic excellence.
Today, let us honor this amazing legacy of religious women, and find inspiration of the words of St. Angela Merici:
“Act, move, believe, strive, hope, cry out to God with all your heart, for without doubt you will see marvelous things, if you direct everything to the praise and glory of God's majesty and the good of souls.”
Keep directing all that you do toward the mission of Catholic education and to God's glory.
Happy Catholic Schools Week 2026.
St. Angela Merici, pray for us!
