Faith in Every Student

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 2/3/05)

This week, we turn our attention to the vital role that our Catholic schools play in the lives of our children. Indeed, this year’s theme "Faith in Every Student: Catholic Schools" expresses at once both a vision and a reality for the over 17,000 elementary and high schools students of our own diocese: that each of them would grow in the faith that is theirs by baptism.

Before I became a bishop, I spent a number of years teaching in two Catholic high schools. Those years are filled with memories — in particular, I recall the way in which the school year would unfold before us with promise and anticipation. Each class of students became, through the course of the year, a small, close-knit family of faith: we remembered each others’ intentions in prayer, together weathered the highs and the lows of the year, and steadily persevered toward the goal of growing closer to Jesus and gaining in knowledge of our faith. It was not always easy, but there were many joys along the way.

With this soft spot in my heart for the classroom, I am personally so proud of our Catholic schools, our teachers and principals, our hard-working school staff, Catholic school parents and, last but by no means least, our students. Together we face many challenges, and together we will meet them.

We face a challenge of growth. As the third-fastest growing diocese in the country, we in the Diocese of Arlington must meet the needs of a rapidly growing Catholic population. Formation in the faith — specifically through the offering of Catholic education in our schools — is a vital component. After all, our schools offer the priceless gift of an integral and extensive formation — at least five days per week, five hours per day.

Together we face the continual challenge of connecting our faith to the world around us. This is especially true as we seek to show our children how our faith is relevant in a media environment that is often so alarmingly secular. I pray that our young people might see in us — and in their homes, schools and parishes — vibrant and exciting lives of faith, lives that challenge, in creative, loving and inviting ways, the so-called "morality" witnessed on much TV. We will falter in meeting these challenges if we are not devoting ourselves to prayer, reception of the sacraments and venturing further along the journey to holiness. We will falter if our schools, catechetical and youth ministry programs do not form a comprehensive framework that supports our parents, who are the primary teachers of the faith within the "domestic church" of the family.

At its heart, our challenge is, as our Holy Father has stated, "to deepen a relationship with God and to discover that all things human have their deepest meaning in the person and teaching of Jesus Christ" (May 30, 1998). With faith in every student, may our Catholic schools continue pointing our children — and indeed, all of us — to the person and teaching of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Loverde Greets Asian Community as They Mark a New Year

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I greet you in the Lord Jesus as you draw closer to the Asian New Year. This New Year, as always, our Asian community will gather for a New Year’s Mass principally at two diocesan parishes, St. Paul Chung and Holy Martyrs of Vietnam. Indeed, the best way to begin any new endeavor is with Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.

May this New Year be a time to gather with family and friends to wipe away the tears of the past and look forward with joyful hope to the coming year. May Our Lord bless you abundantly this Asian New Year and always.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde

Bishop of Arlington

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