Little voices rose and fell throughout the church as adults gently hushed. Families with children of all ages gathered for the annual Mass for Homeschool Families at Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville Oct. 25, celebrated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.
In his homily, Bishop Burbidge acknowledged several chancery employees seated in the front pews, including Joseph Vorbach, diocesan superintendent of the office of Catholic schools; Beth Bostwick, director of school health and wellness; and Joseph McLaughlin, assistant superintendent.
“Hopefully you see the presence of my colleagues from our Catholic education office as a sign that you are an essential part of our Catholic education family, and that we are here to assist you, to support you in any way possible,” Bishop Burbidge said.
Bishop Burbidge thanked the homeschool families for their educational contributions to the diocese. “Thank you, dear parents, for your faithful witness of our love, for enriching the church with the gift of family life, and for taking so seriously your promise to God to be the first teachers of your children, especially in the ways of faith,” he said.
He encouraged families to create an environment of peace in their homes, especially in today’s world of violence, unrest, stress and anxiety.
“Often, our anxiety and our stress will come when we put unrealistic expectations on ourselves. God only asks for our best and our willingness to entrust, to hand over everything to him,” Bishop Burbidge said. “If you students, or you parents and teachers, have found yourselves stressed and anxious and troubled, maybe the Lord is asking you this year, more than ever, to let go, and upon doing your work, let him carry you.”
Bishop Burbidge then addressed the students, encouraging them to go forth as “peacemakers,” especially after receiving the Eucharist. “My dear students, my young friends, promise to be peacemakers — peacemakers at home, peacemakers in your circle of friends,” he said.
Families congregated afterward for a fall-themed celebration with pumpkin spice cake, cookies, apple cider, and bounce houses for the kids. Activity stations ranging from fall coloring pages to rosary crafting were set up throughout the parish campus.
Bishop Burbidge then gathered with the families in the parish hall to watch a play on the life of St. Dominic, performed by students of Holy Trinity Homeschoolers, a homeschool co-op based at the parish.
Homeschool families from across the diocese enjoyed the day’s festivities. Seydi Reyes, mom of seven, said that she and her husband, Juan Guzman, began homeschooling five years ago.
“I decided to do homeschooling along with my husband to better help (the kids) with their future, in realizing that not just knowledge is their future but also their faith,” Reyes said.
The couple enrolled their kids in the Mater Dei co-op in Manassas after hearing about it from Father Juan A. Puigbó, pastor of St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax. The co-op is entirely Spanish-speaking, and Reyes said that the students enjoy not only the academic courses but also extracurriculars.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s challenging, but it’s very fun to see them grow,” she said. “It has helped some of my children grow in their extra activities, like art, music and sports.”
Moira Burkhalter, mom of nine, said that she and her husband decided to homeschool long before they were married. “Even before we were engaged, but kind of at the point we were about to be, he brought it up,” she said. “It had already been on my heart.”
She said that Bishop Burbidge’s emphasis on being peacemakers helped her reflect on how she reflects that peace to her kids. “We pray as a family and go to Mass,” she said. “Being at home, it’s really having that school of virtue each day, teaching them and giving the faith to them.”
