Today marks the beginning of Catholic Education Week in Niagara and across the province of Ontario. At all masses throughout Niagara District our Catholic school principals and teachers, parent members of Catholic School Councils and our priests read a short address from the director of Education for the Niagara Catholic District School Board, Mr. John Crocco. In my parish of St. Thomas Aquinas, it seemed to wrap up a beautiful day of celebration as we also had our Grade 2 students receiving their First Holy Communion as a class. The presence of these young children, their teachers and principal, brought home to us, the beauty and purpose of Christ’s teachings.

The occasion brought me back to about 10 years ago. Catholic Education Week was still a fairly new concept and at one of our Catholic School Council meetings the principal presented a list of activities that would be happening at the school to celebrate the occasion. I couldn’t help but notice that none of the activities mentioned would involve our parish church. Being a strong proponent of the triad of Home/School/Church, I felt it important to remind our parishioners of the value of Catholic education and their role in supporting and advocating on its behalf. (I must thank Syl Roach for igniting this flame in me) That CSC meeting inspired me to put together our first Catholic Education Day. After receiving the blessing of the principal and our parish priest, I was lucky enough to receive the support and assistance of our CSC parish rep and support staff rep and we put together a wonderful day for the students. Students greeted parishioners as they entered the church and also presented the gifts for the offertory which included symbols of education such as a book and a globe. Every grade created displays about their classroom activities and these were set up in the church hall for parishioners to view at the social after mass. As the CSC chairperson this was also the occasion of my first public address on Catholic Education from a parent’s perspective. It took weeks to write it and only minutes to read it but the passion and conviction of the words of that first address will live in my heart forever.

I remember speaking about the past, present and future of our Catholic education system. I applauded our Catholic teachers for their contributions as role models, our administration and trustees for providing support and direction and I thanked parents for choosing to share the gift of a Catholic education with their children. I asked for the prayers and support of my fellow parishioners. I asked everyone present, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbours to speak out for our Catholic system and our Catholic students. I spoke from my heart. I spoke as a Catholic parent to my Catholic community because it really does take a village.

I greatly respect and admire John Crocco for taking up the torch and ensuring that all parishes hear the message of the Good News that is the Gift of Catholic Education. He confirmed the words that have been in my heart all of these years and given them a louder voice by adding his own words and the conviction of his position as Director of Catholic Education. He reminded us that to ensure the future of Catholic education in Ontario we need to declare our support to our government officials by indicating Catholic Separate Supporter on our municipal tax forms/ election forms. I wholeheartedly agree that we need to “put our money where our mouth is” in supporting Catholic education but I believe even more importantly that we need to put our prayers and our hearts where our children are.

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