Podcasts about catholic schools office

Bishop Dolan joins us to talk about Sunday's Gospel. In keeping with our theme of the Eucharist, Dcn. Dennis Lambert talks about his book on the Real Presence. The leaders from the Catholic Schools Office get us ready for the new school year. You'll also get up to date on the latest news and events.   Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.

Catholic Schools Week with Dr. Angela Johnson and Maribel Mendoza-RojasJanuary 29, 2024Season 02, Episode 01We're celebrating Catholic Schools Week here in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston! Join us for a conversation with Dr. Angela Johnson and Maribel Mendoza-Rojas from the Catholic Schools Office to hear about the amazing things happening in our Catholic schools and how you and your family can find out more!You can find more information about our Catholic schools at our website - choosecatholicschools.org - including an interactive map to help you find the closest school to you.If you want to learn more about the annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk benefiting Catholic schools in the Archdiocese which takes place on Feb. 10, visit steps4students.org.-----------------------------------To learn about the ministries and office of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, visit us online at archgh.org.FacebookInstagramYouTube

Bishop Dolan joins us to talk about Sunday's Gospel. The leadership team from the Catholic Schools Office will talk about Catholic Schools Week, Sammie Carel shares about her pro life education work and you'll get up to date on the latest news and events.   Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Seventeen-year-old high school senior Susan Lutzke may have successfully saved her childhood Catholic elementary school from closing after raising more than $400,000 to address the institution's financial difficulties. The principals of Saint Bede School in Ingleside, Illinois, announced on December 13, 2023, that if the money wasn't raised by January 26, the school could face closure. Loving her experience at Saint Bede, Lutzke immediately sprung into action. The crowdfunding campaign almost instantly began generating funds, with almost 900 donations ranging from $10 to $50,000. In an updated statement on the GoFundMe, Susan Lutzke wrote on Sunday: “We're thrilled to announce that we have officially surpassed our initial goal of $400,000 with 12 days left until the deadline.” A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Chicago's Catholic Schools Office told ABC7Chicago earlier this month that decreased funding from the state has made it challenging for some Catholic schools to stay open. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256563/teen-hits-major-fundraising-feat-in-attempt-to-save-her-childhood-catholic-school A bill under consideration in Congress would preemptively disallow the White House's to strip federal funding from some crisis pregnancy centers throughout the US. The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act was introduced in the House of Representatives this month. The bill if passed would “prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from restricting funding for pregnancy centers.” The bill, which is scheduled to be considered on Thursday, is meant to counteract the Biden administration's efforts to restrict crisis pregnancy centers around the country from participating in a major federal welfare program. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256557/house-to-consider-bill-to-halt-biden-administration-s-defunding-of-crisis-pregnancy-centers The celebration of Mass at a southern California parish was interrupted by an armed police pursuit of a suspected gunman on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred during the 8:30 am Mass on Tuesday at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia, Orange County, California. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256559/mass-at-california-catholic-church-parish-interrupted-by-armed-police-pursuit The 51st national March for Life — the largest annual pro-life event in the world — is just around the corner, on Friday, January 19. For more information ahead of the March, visit Catholic News Agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256554/some-snow-predicted-for-2024-march-for-life-plus-everything-else-you-need-to-know https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256561/how-to-watch-the-march-for-life-ewtn-s-complete-coverage-schedule Today, the Church celebrates Saint Charles of Sezze. Saint Charles was born John Charles Marchioni in Sezze, Italy on October 19, 1613. He was known for his holiness, simplicity, and charity. He was generous to travelers and sought out spiritual advice. In 1656 he worked tirelessly with victims of the plague. He also wrote several mystical works including his autobiography entitled "The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God.” Tradition states he was called to the bedside of the dying Pope Clement IX for a blessing. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-charles-of-sezze-416

Second Sunday of Easter - John 20: 19-31 Australian Women Preach has always celebrated diversity.  Our women preachers come from different generations, backgrounds, cultures, geographical locations, and Christian denominations. They also come to preaching with different mindsets and priorities, theological emphases and preaching styles.  To spotlight this kind of diversity, we are offering two sermons on this Sunday's gospel text.  You might like to consider where these reflections converge and where they show us an individual perspective, and how, taken together, they challenge and enrich our own understandings. Tanya Wittwer lives on the lands of the Peramangk people with her songwriter husband, Leigh Newton, two alpacas and four chickens. Their elastic-sided family live within semi-regular Sunday-night-family-meal distance.  Sixty-three years ago Tanya perceived herself as being called to pastoral leadership in her church. When she was twelve she discovered ordination was not possible in the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand. Her subsequent dream of being a ballerina was probably delusional, and God has continued to keep her early calling alive. So she has the broad and shallow working life of one who cannot enter her vocation, having had coordination and management roles in community service, domestic violence prevention, nature conservation, chaplaincy and public health, and academic roles in counselling, community health and theology. Most recently she was holding administrative roles and teaching preaching, pastoral care, and research topics at the Adelaide College of Divinity. After degrees in arts, education and religious education, Tanya completed a Master of Divinity at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and a PhD in homiletics through Flinders Uni. She has been working with many others towards the ordination of women in the LCANZ church for the past forty or so years, and this effort has intensified in recent years.  In late 2022 she edited “unless they are sent”, a collection of writings from the past forty-five years, affirming the ordination of women.    Gail Gill writes: I was for a while as a graphic artist in advertising agencies and increasingly began to find it lacked meaning. As a mature age student, I began study to be a teacher in Catholic schools. I worked in the Sydney Archdiocese mainly as a teacher, REC and principal. I also worked as a religious education advisor and then led the development of Sydney's first religious education curriculum for primary schools. I have worked in Broken Bay as a schools consultant and as a facilitator for school advisory boards with the Catholic Schools Office. I was seconded for three years to the Broken Bay Institute in the first three years of its development. In 2009 I resigned from the Catholic Schools Office in Broken Bay to become a consecrated member of a ministry the then Bishop, David Walker, had established for women in the diocese. I have worked in a number of parishes in various capacities, including one where I was a Coordinator of Parish Life according to canon 517.2. I have also been a member of the Broken Bay formation team for the permanent diaconate. I have an adult daughter and son and two beautiful granddaughters. Currently, I am transitioning towards retirement that will include some writing and engagement with groups such as Australian Catholics Exploring Diaconate (ACED).

Why are curiosity and creativity so relevant for all learning? Can curiosity in the classroom be measured? How can researchers and educators work together to develop teaching strategies that encourage children to embrace creativity?Nina Alonso welcomes Sarah Richardson and Sladana Krstic from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) who have been conducting research in collaboration with International Baccalaureate (IB). They discuss partnering with teachers in the classroom to test prototype material with the ultimate aim of tracking and fostering creativity and curiosity among students.Nina also talks to educators in China, India and Australia about the importance of curiosity and creativity in the classroom. The educators discuss their roles in the research conducted by ACER and the development of the tools they are able to use to support their learners. Guests and resourcesInternational Baccalaureate (IB)IBO.orgIB TwitterIB FacebookLinkedInIB InstagramAustralian Council for Educational Research (ACER)ACER.org/auACER TwitterACER FacebookACER LinkedinHunter Valley Grammar School (Australia)WebpageMaree Karaka was at Hunter Valley at the time of recording and is now Education Officer - Gifted Education at the Catholic Schools Office.ISA International school Guangzhou, ChinaLinkedinIngrid DelangePathways school, IndiaWebpageMonica Bhimwal (Headteacher, Pathways School)Bombay International School (India)Bombay International SchoolAzmin MistryRead the summary of the ACER research and the full report.An additional study on behalf of the IBO about curiosity and creativity was conducted by Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment and can be found here.Contacthttps://twitter.com/BOLD_insights https://twitter.com/VoicesTeachersListen to all episodes: https://bold.expert/teachers-voices/Newsletter: https://bold.expert/newsletter https://bold.expert Email: podcastteachersvoices@gmail.com  

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 Gail Gill writes: Eleven years ago I resigned from the Catholic Schools Office in Broken Bay diocese to become a consecrated member of a ministry the then Bishop, David Walker, established for women in the diocese. During those eleven years, I have worked in five parishes in various capacities, including one where I was a Coordinator of Parish Life according to canon 517.2. I am currently appointed to Our Lady of Dolours parish in Chatswood in the ministries of faith formation and social justice. I am also a member of the formation team for the permanent diaconate. I was for a while as a graphic artist in advertising agencies and increasingly began to find it lacked meaning. As a mature age student, I began study to be a teacher in Catholic schools. I worked in the Sydney Archdiocese mainly as a teacher, REC and principal. I also worked as a religious education advisor and then led the development of Sydney's first religious education curriculum for primary schools. For the past twenty two years I have worked in Broken Bay diocese as a schools consultant and as a facilitator for school advisory boards with the Catholic Schools Office. I was seconded for three years to the Broken Bay Institute in the first three years of its development. I have a daughter who has lived in London with her husband for the past twenty years. My son lives locally and I have two granddaughters.

The Superintendent of the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Boston, Thomas Carroll, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss how Catholic schools in Massachusetts have responded and adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic, and how they've remained open while many public schools operated remotely.

In this episode Father Fred Adamson talks about his role in the diocese, which includes leadership in many areas including oversight of the Catholic Schools Office. His support of and involvement in Catholic education goes back more than 20 years when he was an associate at St. Theresa in Phoenix. He shares his memories of being involved in the school as well as his leadership role in the Diocese of Phoenix for the last 17 years. Father Fred shares with Nancy his memories of when tax credit legislation came into being in Arizona and the origins of the Catholic education tax credit organization, CTODP, which eventually became Catholic Education Arizona. Learn more by enjoying stories and memories from Father Fred about Catholic education, Arizona tax credits, and charitable giving.

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Mike and Pete stray far from the friendly confines of The Vault as they attend the Catholic Media Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin (https://www.cmctitletown.com/). Joining them this week are fellow attendees Erin Friedlander, communications director from the Diocese of Metuchen, and Mary Beth Peabody, Marketing and Communications Manager for the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Camden. The quartet recap the CMC sessions they attended so far, and highlight elements that every diocese, parish, school and organization should be thinking about, and they also discuss their visit to two shrines, Lambeau Field and The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, the only approved Marian apparition shrine in the United States: https://www.shrineofourladyofgoodhelp.com/. Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, SoundCloud or at http://www.camdendiocese.org/talkingcatholic/. #CatholicStrong #cmctitletown

We have another SPECIAL podcast this week, we are offering it in two languages! For our English listeners, Mike and Pete sit down with Andres Arango, Bishop's Delegate for Hispanic Ministry. For Spanish listeners, Marianela Nunez, Catholic Schools Office field consultant for the Latino enrollment program, takes the co-host chair and joins Pete and Andres for the interview. Both podcasts discuss this weekend's V Encuentro, which will bring together South Jersey Hispanics for day of reflection, faith sharing, and missionary discipleship. Both podcasts also touch on evangelization, Pope Francis, and what gifts Hispanics bring to the Catholic Church.

In this episode, Superintendent Kathy Mears chats with Sr. Bárbara Gutiérrez, SNDdeN, the director of enrollment management at the Catholic Schools Office. Sr. Bárbara, who has been at the Catholic Schools Office since the beginning of May, works with schools to strengthen their ties with Hispanic families.    Music: "Arcade Paradise" by Scott Holmes http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes

Archdiocese of Boston Catholic Schools Superintendent Kathy Mears and Evangelization Consultant Amber Ezeani chat about ways to celebrate Advent at home Saints and Scholars On the Go is a monthly podcast discussing the intersection of faith, education & daily life. Saints and Scholars On the Go is presented by the Catholic Schools Office in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Today's topics: Catholic Schools Week: Catholic Schools Office Summary of today's show: To finish Catholic Schools Week, Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines welcome Mary Moran, Chris Flieger, and Jim Walsh of the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese to discuss the ministry of Catholic schools throughout the year and the opportunity to highlight that work this week every year. They discuss the mission of Catholic schools and how they differ from other schools in that they bring the Gospel to their classrooms, as well as the reason for the popularity of the Catholic school option even in towns with very good public schools. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines Today's guest(s): Links from today's show:

Today's topics: Retrospective on Dr. Mary Grassa O'Neill's tenure as Catholic Schools superintendent Summary of today's show: As she ends her five-year tenure as the first lay superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston, Dr. Mary Grassa O'Neill and part of her leadership team join Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell to reflect on the changes that they have shepherded in Catholic schools, including transparency, financial strengthening, increased marketing, improved relationships with the local schools, and most importantly improved outcomes for all students in Catholic schools. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Dr. Mary Grassa O'Neill, Jim Walsh, Chris Flieger, Joseph Arangio from the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today's show:

Summary of today's show: Scot Landry and Susan Abbott discussed the news headlines of the week, including the ordination of a former Anglican priest to the Catholic priesthood in Beverly; progress reported on the causes of canonization for Blessed John Paul II and Archbishop Oscar Romero; and the appointment of a new principal for Lawrence Catholic Academy. Also, the Spring fund drive for WQOM has started this week. To support the work of WQOM and The Station of the Cross, which brings Catholic programming like The Good Catholic Life to the Boston area, please be as generous as your means permit with . Listen to the show: Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Links from today's show: Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today's topics: Ordination of former Anglican priest; progress on canonizations; new principal for Lawrence Catholic school 1st segment: Scot Landry Welcomed everyone to the show and noted that producer Rick Heil has a birthday today but we can't celebrate with him with cake because he is in Buffalo for the Station of the Cross's spring fund drive. They said the size of Rick's cake will depend on how much people give to the fund drive this hour. Scot said in the Pilot this week is the story of a new priest in the Archdiocese of Boston, Fr. Jurgen Liias, who was an Anglican priest for 40 years and this past Saturday he was ordained by Cardinal Seán a Roman Catholic priest in the Anglican rite. Susan Abbott said in her own parish they have Fr. Richard Bradford who was an Episcopal priest who was ordained for the Church in the late 1970s, and served in her parish. Scot quoted Cardinal Seán at the seminary: “Jurgen, we thank God for your generous response to this second calling and commend you to the loving care of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd, so that your ministry as a Catholic priest will draw people closer to the Lord and to one another, as we strive for the unity that Christ prayed for at the Last Supper, and so that we will experience the fellowship of those first disciples who were of one mind and one heart,” he said. Scot quoted Fr. Jurgen and then Fr. Jurgen's wife. She noted he retired for about five minutes from the Episcopal church and then felt God tell him that the time was right for his conversion. “He is a bundle of energy and vision. He is a wonderful preacher. He is a great pastor, and I am excited for him. He retired for about five minutes, from the Episcopal Church and thought he might garden, and travel, and hike, but then he thought that this is something he has been wanting to do. God told him the time was right,” she said. Scot said Fr. David Barnes and the people of the Catholic parishes in Beverly were eager to welcome Fr. Jurgen to the priesthood. Break for Fund Drive Appeal. To support the work of WQOM and The Station of the Cross, which brings Catholic programming like The Good Catholic Life to the Boston area, please be as generous as your means permit with . 2nd segment: Scot said two stories this week are about two causes for canonization, including Bl. John Paul II. Earlier this week, it was reported that some Vatican doctors concluded that a healing attributed to his intercession had no natural explanation, meaning it's a miracle and if this report is true, it clears the way for him to be canonized as St. John Paul II. Susan talked about all the talk at the time of his funeral in 2005 of his sanctity. While the Church usually moves slowly in such causes, this process has moved rapidly. There is some hope to have the ceremony during the Year of Faith and in October, which is the 35th anniversary of his election to the papacy. Scot said he feels a little like the Year of Faith has lost a little attention because of all the other events, like the election of Pope Francis. He thinks a canonization would bring the attention back to it. Also, related to canonization, the cause for Archbishop Oscar Romero was “unblocked”. The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints had to determine if he was martyred or not, given that he was assassinated by a government death squad in the cathedral in El Salvador. Scot said in his opinion that the question is ridiculous. He also thinks that the fact that Pope Francis is from Latin America and is himself a fan of the archbishop might have had something to do with it. Susan recommended the movie “Romero” as an introduction to the archbishop. Break for Fund Drive Appeal. To support the work of WQOM and The Station of the Cross, which brings Catholic programming like The Good Catholic Life to the Boston area, please be as generous as your means permit with . 3rd segment: Scot said a big appointment was made this week. Jorge Hernandez, one of the assistant superintendents in the Catholic Schools Office, was hired as the new principal of Lawrence Catholic Academy. Susan said in the article in the Pilot, Fr. Paul O'Brien, pastor of St. Patrick's Parish, said Jorge will be respected by the people in the area because he is one of them. Scot said he wishes he could clone Jorge because of his talents that will be missed in the Pastoral Center and will serve him well in Lawrence. Susan said Jorge was previously a dean of admissions at Merrimac College. Scot noted that the students at Lawrence Catholic Academy do very well in school compared to their public school counterparts and one of the reasons is that the Catholic schools can care for the whole person. Break for Fund Drive Appeal. To support the work of WQOM and The Station of the Cross, which brings Catholic programming like The Good Catholic Life to the Boston area, please be as generous as your means permit with .

Summary of today's show: Catholic Schools Week begins today with Jorge Hernandez and Jim Walsh of the Catholic Schools Office sitting down with Scot Landry to talk about the state of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Boston, the principles of excellence that encourage in schools, as well as some of the amazing success stories among local Catholic schools that have seen growth in enrollment and academic achievement. Listen to the show: Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Jorge Hernandez, Jim Walsh of Catholic Schools Office Links from today's show: Today's topics: Catholic Schools Week 1st segment: Scot welcomed everyone to the show. He said it's Catholic Schools Week and he said the theme this year is “Catholic schools raise the standards.” He said across the Archdiocese of Boston, everyone in Catholic schools have been working hard to raise the standards of Catholic education. Today, we'll look at Catholic education in Boston at a macro level and the rest of the week in specific schools. He welcomed Jorge Hernandez and Jim Walsh, area superintendents for the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. Jim said Catholic schools educate 2 million students across the US, 1.4 million in elementary schools. In the archdiocese, 41,000 in 121 Catholic schools, both run by parishes and independent and run by religious orders. Scot said 41,000 is at least as big as any public school district in the state. Jorge said in terms of the number of schools it is certainly one of the largest. Scot said Jorge is responsible for the North and Merrimac regions. He asked him what made him leave Merrimack College to come work as an area superintendent for the Archdiocese. He said it's a wonderful team in the Catholic Schools Office. He's been able to see another aspect of Catholic school education, having gone to Catholic schools from K through college, on both the West Coast and East Coast. His parents were Mexican immigrants to the US and they treasured Catholic education. He said Catholic schools are unique. They offer an opportunity to be engaged in faith and to be top academic leaders. Scot said Jim has worked for the Archdiocese of many years. Jim said he grew up at St. Gregory's in Dorchester and his family had faith as a very important. He attended Catholic high school and college and his kids have gone to Catholic schools. He said Catholic schools educate the whole person, including faith in terms of who we are. Bringing faith to the heart of every child is a gift of life. Teachers are partners with parents in forming the children. Scot said Catholic education forms the heart and teaches them how to love. He said education and classroom work alone isn't enough to form a good person. Jim said St. Catherine's in Norwood has a simple motto of “See Christ in others. Be Christ to others.” The school uses that every day in morning prayer with the children. It helps the children to understand we are individually called to serve Christ and His Church. Jorge said Catholic Schools Week calls attention to all the different ways that Catholic schools benefit the students and community. Activities are individual to the school, such as Masses or open houses or alumni reunions. Jim said a lot of students from referrals from family, neighbors, and others who are in Catholic schools. Having a parish Mass dedicated to the school and then an open house allows them to show what the school stands for, the commitment to values, the teachers' values. Jim said the Archdiocese formed a partnership with Boston College a few years ago to run St. Columbkille School, which has almost 400 students now. At a recent gathering, BC president Fr. Leahy talked about how the school has nurtured the faith of students over the years. Scot asked why St. Columbkille has grown so much in recent years. Jim said they were able to bring a bunch of resources, not just financial, but also pastorally, infrastructure, administration and in other ways. They've brought reassurance to the neighborhood that the school will be stable, after Presentation School closed nearby, so that people feel confident sending their children there. Stable enrollment allows the school to invest in curriculum, teacher ongoing formation, etc. Scot said when enrollment declines, it's tougher for a school to invest in growth. But turning the tide also creates an upward spiral too, as people have confidence in a consistent level of instruction. Jorge said Notre Dame Cristo Rey in Lawrence is another wonderful school. It has a model of education where students also work part-time in jobs at local businesses that provide both work experience and an income that defrays tuition costs, in addition to the rigorous academics. They have almost 300 students, growing from 100 students in the past five years. Another great story is the formation of Lawrence Catholic Academy, which serves 500 students from pre-K to eighth grade. He said there are tremendous high schools throughout the archdiocese. Scot noted that the Xaverians Brothers have helped revitalize Lowell Catholic High School in recent years. Jim said it's another unique partnership opportunity with the Xavierian Brothers and in 3 years have brought enrollment nearly to capacity. 2nd segment: Scot read from essays by Catholic school students submitted to an essay contest in the Diocese of Fall River's The Anchor newspaper on what they love about Catholic school. Jim talked about how principals and teachers are wonderful role model and leaders. The three principles of excellence including: Actionable ways of living a vision of leadership Academic excellence with high standards and expectations of higher education Managerial excellence including strong financial management. The Schools Office offers workshops for principals, teachers, staff, and pastors on leadership and governance, fiscal sustainability, the need for boards, the role of the administration as a hub for information. As they work on challenging decisions, they realize the importance of involving laity in terms of boards. This puts a strain on the administration in terms of providing information. The goal is to start looking into the future for planning. Jorge said behind every successful Catholic schools is a successful Catholic school leader in spiritual, academic, and managerial leadership, whether pastor or principal. They discussed how tuitions have risen to provide greater resources for the higher excellence. Jorge said this is why the support of the community is so vital. Scot quoted Cardinal Timothy Dolan from an America magazine piece on the decline of Catholic education: The reasons for the decline are familiar: the steady drop in vocations to the religious teaching orders who were the greatest single work force in the church's modern period; the drastic shift in demographics of the late-20th century that saw a dramatic drop-off in Catholic immigration from Europe; the rising cost of living since the late 1970s that forced nearly every American parent to become a wage-earner and put Catholic education beyond their budget; and the crumbling of an intact neighborhood-based Catholic culture that depended upon the parochial school as its foundation. The most crippling reason, however, may rest in an enormous shift in the thinking of many American Catholics, namely, that the responsibility for Catholic schools belongs only to the parents of the students who attend them, not to the entire church. Nowadays, Catholics often see a Catholic education as a consumer product, reserved to those who can afford it. The result is predictable: Catholics as a whole in the United States have for some time disowned their school system, excusing themselves as individuals, parishes or dioceses from any further involvement with a Catholic school simply because their own children are not enrolled there, or their parish does not have its own school. Scot said he used to think like that. He thought back to a previous era, when every Catholic sent their children to a Catholic school because the Church was persecuted. But later, at least in places where there were more Catholics, even in public schools there were so many Catholics that it was almost like a Catholic school. That has changed. Jim noted that up to the early 70s most schools were supported by parish offertory where they didn't charge tuition. He said the Archdiocese needs to to take action so that the whole approach of evangelization to make Catholic schools an integral part of strengthening parish collaboratives. Scot said there could come a day in Massachusetts when the way to stand up to support Catholic schools will be to call legislators in support of legislation that would allow a tax break or school choice for parents who want Catholic education. Scot said he often hears from Catholic school alumni about their gratitude for their teachers. He said teachers today are very dedicated, especially when public school teachers have much better pay and benefits. Catholic school teachers have made a commitment to the Catholic school setting. Jorge said he points to the various religious orders who were responsible for his Catholic education. He thinks many Catholic school teachers in the archdiocese were themselves similarly inspired and touched by their own Catholic school teachers, especially in the religious orders that laid the foundation for Catholic education in Boston. They are often very passionate about the mission of the Catholic school, integrating faith, life, academics, social justice. They work everyday in the common mission of the betterment of society and that's why the Catholic educators don't see it as a job, but as a vocation. Jim said last year, there were 16 new principals or school presidents and about 40% came from public education. He said the CSO has also encouraged among educators some professional development so they can themselves step into those roles some day. He said there are two kinds of governance. The legally independent schools have independent boards, and parish schools have advisory boards. They are always looking for people with backgrounds in various disciples like human resources, finance, technology, marketing, facilities, and more. Everyone can be a part of the education. Jorge noted that there's been an increase in enrollment in early education programs for ages 3 and 4. He said families want more than just day care, but to ensure that they're receiving instruction in a values-based educational environment.

Summary of today's show:Tom Nunan and Mary Grassa O'Neill join Scot and Susan Abbott to discuss the newest Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Boston - St Joseph Preparatory High School. Tom, as the Head of School, explains his hopes and dreams for this merger of Mount Saint Joseph and Trinity High Schools, and how he hopes they will grow and educate in the future. Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Tom Nunan and Mary Grassa O'Neill Links from today's show: Today's topics: New school profile: St Joseph Preparatory High School 1st segment: Scot welcomed Susan back for a non-Thursday show - Susan said that with back to school happening, the beginning of the year shouldn't be January 1st but rather Labor Day! Scot said that Catholic schools are a central part of the Archdiocese's mission, and welcomed Thomas Nunan, the Head of School of the newest Catholic high school in the Archdiocese, St Joseph Preparatory High School, and Mary Grassa O'Neill, Superintendent of Schools and Secretary for Education for the Archdiocese of Boston. Scot asked Tom to give a snapshot of St Joseph Prep. Tom explained St Joseph Prep was formed on the tradition and legacy of Mount St Joseph Academy for girls in Brighton and Trinity Catholic High School in Newtown. What's fascinating, Tom said, is that the Sisters of St Joseph are engaged not only with the new St Joseph Prep but were the sponsors of Mount St Joseph and a vital part of Trinity Catholic. Tom concluded by saying that while the sisters have several sponsored ministry, having the sisters a stone's throw from the motherhouse and being joined by five sisters on the faculty is healthy for all. Scot asked how many students are enrolled in the new freshman class - Tom replied that the enrollment is approximately 280 students. While the freshman class is a bit smaller than before, Tom continued, it was recruited by people who didn't work for a school that didn't yet exist! The senior class is more than 90 students this year, and Tom said they have been blessed by contributions by the administrative team to create good classes all around. Scot asked Tom to talk about the priorities since he was named this past April, especially considering there is so much history between the two communities. Tom said he was hired during Holy Week, and they think of themselves as an Easter people with the new schools in a very real way. Tom explained the only other option from combining was to lose both schools, but there is tremendous new hope with the school's combination and re-opening. Taking a tour of the building was an interesting start, Tom said, and finding things like a bathtub on the 5th floor of the building by the library. Other challenges have been setting up master schedules for all the students, figuring out what the mailing address of the school is (they are 30 yards into Boston rather than Brighton), and most importantly putting the people in place. Tom concluded by saying that any institution relies heavily on its people, so they've put much time and prayer into finding the right faculty, staff, and administrative teams - about one third from Mt St Joseph, a third from Trinity Catholic, and a third new faculty members from as far as California and as close as down the street in Brighton. The mascot for the new school's sports, Scot said, is a phoenix. Tom explained that the students from both schools got together at a workshop at Boston College in the spring for team building, and one exercise was to pick a mascot. Tom said he usually says three things about the phoenix: first, the bird comes out of the ashes of a funeral pyre of it's own making; second, it is a resurrection symbol, sometimes our own views and timelines forget that loss and suffering have the last word and the phoenix shows that isn't quite the case; third, legend says there can only be one phoenix at any time in history. Tom explained each faculty member and student should feel they are unique and called to be at the school at that very time. 2nd segment: Scot commented that what Tom is going through at St Joseph Prep is not necessarily unique in the world of Catholic schools today - some schools are hanging on the edge of being viable. Mary said the first thing the Catholic Schools Office looks for schools to be excellent in faith formation, academics, and financial practices. Scot said over the last few years at the Archdiocese many grade schools have combined and come together for excellence, and asked Mary about the planning process for something like this. Mary replied that a strong leader, like Tom, is critical to facilitate the transition. The leader must understand first the Catholic part of Catholic schools, strive for excellence in education, have a strong sponsor, and recruit strong partners. Mary commented that Tom has facilitated partnerships with Boston College, major donors, and even an international program to recruit students from around the world. Mary expressed confidence that St Joseph Prep, under Tom's leadership, will produce well-formed and well-educated young adults. She also explained that this was one of the first high school integrations. Announcing the merge a year ahead of time allowed for planning and allowed students and parents to be brought further into the process. Scot asked Tom what he took away from his time on the board of Trinity Catholic Academy in Brockton. Tom replied that he learned a vibrant, active, thoughtful and engaged board is important, from recruitment to fiscal sustainability. Catholic schools need partners of many kinds, and board members can provide those partnerships Tom said. Scot mentioned that many people seek excellence, and that Tom is leaving St Sebastian in Needham, a school many people consider very excellent. Tom replied that he was attracted by the excitement of opening a new school, first - it's like working at a start-up company, sitting around a giant conference table planning to get a school going. The second thing Tom said attracted him to St Joseph Prep is the opportunity and even obligation to provide the same excellence St Sebastian's offers into the heart of Boston. The third thing Tom said he finds exciting about opening the new school is a new challenge to provide education to students and the challenge of bringing people together around the table. Scot asked what Tom has done since he was hired in April to get ready for the new school and new school year. Tom answered that he has a very "people first" approach, responding to email and phone calls from parents to acknowledge that a school is a partnership between parents and the faculty. Tom said he also tries to keep his focus on the high goal, to serve parents and students always and everywhere. The only reason the school exists, Tom said, is the students. The school is not about the adults (parents, faculty, staff, or administrators), but about the students they serve and nurture. When people come to the table at St Joseph Prep, Tom said, they will see a level of professionalism and care that no other school has ever offered them before. Scot asked how Tom plans to inspire school pride, which is an important part of the culture of St Sebastian's. Tom said that students have told him they want what every student should want - meaningful assignments, challenging and invested teachers, a positive morale, a nurturing community. This starts with a culture in the faculty, Tom said, teaching from bell to bell, putting up on the board what the objective is for the day, and implementing best practices for teaching. 3rd segment: Susan asked Tom about the challenges of moving from a single gender school at Mt St Joseph. She commented that both she and Mary are the product of single gender schools, and have spoken about how meaningful that experience was. Tom said coming from 27 years of an all-boys school to a merger with a school that is all girls is an interesting change! He explained that his initial response is that he has a teenage daughter who will be a senior in high school, so he does have some experience with girls that age in education. The first mission of preparing students for college is mostly gender blind in his opinion, Tom said, and that the new school will be opening with almost 65% girls in the school. There was an argument a long time ago about girls not taking advantage of the opportunities for leadership and more that schools offered if boys were in the same classes. Tom said he does appreciate the argument, but any guidance counselor these days will say it is harder to get girls into colleges than boys because their grades tend to be stronger, resumes more complete, and GPAs higher. Tom expressed confidence in the incoming senior class, and that they'll put St Joseph Prep on the map with their college placements. He hopes that the student body is able to take advantage of all the benefits of co-educational rather than single-sex education, even though retreats and such might be separated. Susan mentioned that Tom has had involvement in theater before, and asked what arts programs might carry over from the two schools. Tom said that Mt St Joseph had a strong theater tradition they hope to continue, and that freshmen and sophomores will have fine arts courses built in. Eventually, Tom said, the hope is to prepare students to take the AP Studio Art exam, which involves a significant amount of work preparing a portfolio. Scot said there are many parents who struggle with the decision of where their child should go to high school. Mary said that students at Catholic high schools are expected and have proved themselves as better candidates for better colleges, as well as have been formed into good Catholic young adults. Students perform community service, learn about their faith, and give back to others. Studies from Notre Dame have shown that Catholic school students vote more often, are more involved in their community, and are more stand-up citizens. Tom added that integrity is another critical part of the St Joseph Prep mission - they ought to be taught by people of high moral character in order to become people of high moral character. Blessed John Paul II said that young people don't learn from teachers, Tom continued, but they learn from witnesses. Scot asked Tom to provide some stats on the student body for the upcoming year at St Joseph Prep. Tom said they represent neighborhoods from West Roxbury to Hyde Park to Melrose and even around the corner in Brighton. Economically, the diversity is wide as well - families who are partnered with foundations who can reduce tuition down to only $1,000, and some who have no financial aid. In four years, Tom said he would like to grow the student body from the 280 or so that it is now to upwards of 400 students, where everybody could know everybody else's name in the school. This will also help with the structuring of the long-term financial planning, and encourage foundation partners to invest in the school as well as parishes and families. Right now, Tom said, there are about 50 international students with host families in the area, and he'd like to see students continue to come from all over Boston and all over the world. Susan pointed out that parents are sometimes scared by the idea that they are the primary educator of their children, and that what she hears from Tom about St Joseph Prep's model of welcoming parents is a fantastic way to involve parents in the pivotal years for their children's formation. If you can partner with a school who shares your values, Susan said, the odds are a lot better that the child will be a better formed, happy, and holy adult. Tom replied that he's been in high school education for most of his adult life, and people tend worry about dangerous places in high school - parties, gangs, and worse. But at the same time, Tom said, it is just as bad to be alone. St Joseph Prep will constantly strive, he said, to be a place where no one is alone. Another piece that they talked about their faculty meeting last week, Tom said, is no more "them," only us. "Us includes everyone" is the new mantra among faculty, staff, and students.

Summary of today's show: The National Catholic Educational Association 2012 convention gathered more than 10,000 educators in Boston last week to inspire, energize, and teach one another in how best to follow their ministries. Scot Landry went to the floor of the convention last week to speak with members of the Boston archdiocese's Catholic Schools Office—Mary Grassa-O'Neill, Sheila Kukstiss, and Jorge Hernandez—about what it means to host the convention and share the good news of Catholic education in New England. Then Scot sat down with Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, the keynote speaker for the day, to discuss his topic, “Keeping a mellow heart in a bitter time.” Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Dr. Mary Grassa-O'Neill, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, Jorge Hernandez, Sheila Kukstiss Links from today's show: Today's topics: NCEA Convention 2012 in Boston 1st segment: Scot said last Wednesday, he and Rick Heil traveled to the Hynes Convention Center in Boston to tape a special show at the first day of the National Catholic Educational Association annual convention, which gathered 10,000 people in Boston to discuss Catholic education. Scot said it was a joy to be surrounded by so many people who had such a great spirit of hope for the future of Catholic education in this country. Rick said a lot of the workshops he poked his head into had a great energy and he noticed a great emphasis on the Catholicity of their education. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed listeners to the Hynes Convention Center and welcomed Mary Grassa O'Neill, Sheila Kukstiss, and Jorge Hernandez from the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Boston, who were key to the organization of the NCEA convention in Boston. Mary said it's brilliant that the NCEA is in Boston because it means all of our Catholic schools can participate and as Cardinal Seán said, we love showing off our city. It's a once in a lifetime career opportunity for many to meet their colleagues from across the country. Sheila said there were two award recipients from Boston for honors from the NCEA. Sheila said the recipients were St. Patrick Parish in Lawrence and Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton, honored for their Catholic identity. Sheils said it was a had choice to single them out among all the schools. She said what stood out at St. Patrick was the work with Cor Unum meal center. Cardinal Spellman does a great job with getting their students alive with Catholic identity through their liturgies and Catholic service teams. Scot asked Jorge about his initial experiences at NCEA. It was his first time at the convention. He said it's great to have all these people in Boston over the course of three days, all invested in helping Catholic education thrive and grow. Jorge is Area Superintendent for the Merrimack Valley in the Schools Office. He said it wasn't hard to convince educators in his area to attend the NCEA. Scot said Cardinal Seán celebrated the opening Mass. Mary said the cardinal was funny and profound and offered challenges and support for Catholic education. She said eight high school choirs performed during the opening Mass. She said about 35 bishops and priests concelebrated and about 10,000 people received Communion. They had many positive comments on the Mass. Scot asked who comes to the NCEA. Mary said seminarians, librarians, religious education teachers, pastors, colleges & universities, in addition to teachers and principals. Sheila said she keeps hearing from people who say they love coming to the convention when it's in Boston because of the spirit they experience here. Sheila said people come from Argentina, Curacao, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and England among other countries. Scot said the convention is being co-hosted by the dioceses of New England. Jorge said he's hoping to be able foster the relationships among dioceses in collaboration. Sheila said they had people from all the dioceses of New England working together preparing for the convention, even stuffing ten thousand bags the day prior and they all said how much fun it was to work together. Mary said it's wonderful to come and make the connections, meeting superintendents from all over the world that she could be in contact with in the future. She said they showed a narrated video about Catholic education in New England that was co-produced with the Catholic Media Secretariat and they got rave reviews for it. Scot asked what led to the decision to have more than one diocese to co-host this convention, which is the first time it's happened. Mary said all the superintendents and bishops agreed and all the staffs participated. Scot said it's a blessing to work for a big dioceses because of the resources available and the partnerships that are possible. To involve the other dioceses who would never be able to host a convention is wonderful to be able to share it with them. Sheila said in her experience NCEA conventions have always been able bringing people together. But what has changed is the technology that they use to connect everyone. One example s that they have images from all the dioceses on monitors around the convention center. Jorge said they also had digital displays of students artwork available of all the artwork. Sheila said what doesn't change is the energy that comes from being with people who share the same passion. Sheila said we're keeping up with what's going on in education nationally and internationally through the speakers in keynotes and workshops. Scot asked how many local leaders are involved in speaking in the various workshops. Mary said many of our principals and those on the Catholic Schools team are speaking. Jorge said it's a tough choice to choose which workshops to participate in, so schools should bring many participants in order to later compare notes. It's an opportunity to allow all of these people to be able to grow with one another and pick up best practices. Scot asked Sheila was she learned that surprised her. She said what energized her was bringing everyone together to organize this and the community that developed around it. Mary said they're working to spread the good word of Catholic schools' success and she's pleased and honored to be part of this ministry. 3rd segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Ron Rolheiser to the show. He was the inaugural keynote speaker. Scot asked him he likes to speak to the convention. Fr. Ron said it's one of the larger gathering of Catholic educators in the world, but also there's a special energy. They are people deeply involved in Catholic education. They are passionate about their jobs and hungry for information on Catholic education. Fr. Ron said it's the same for all careers, that you have a special energy when you meet with people who do what you do. Scot said Fr. Ron is currently the president of a Catholic college in San Antonio, Texas, the Oblate School of Theology. He's know as a Catholic author and speaker. Fr. Ron said he tries to limit his speaking to twice a month because he has a full-time job. Scot said Fr. Ron covers many topics of Catholic spirituality. He asked Fr. Ron how defines himself as a Catholic speaker. He said he defines himself in terms of his Catholic spirituality. He said his Catholic education gave him a solid foundation and now he belongs to a missionary order and he sees himself as one who speaks to those who are away from the Church. Fr. Ron tries to write for doubters, questioners, and those struggling, and likes to work with those doing that kind of work. Scot said Fr. Ron is a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He said he grew up knowing the OMI order and that's why he joined them. They turned out to be a very good choice. The keynote's title was “Keeping a mellow heart in a bitter time.” Fr. Ron said he picked the topic because it's something all of society needs to reflect on. The world is in a time of polarization and misunderstandings at a global level that filters down. there's anger and demonization and bitterness. His challenge was to talk about how to remain understanding and respectful in a time when virtually everything leads otherwise. Scot asked if it's new that we let politics seep into how we think of our brothers and sisters in the Church. Fr. Ron said it's always there, but not so intense. Throughout history we went through times of more or less bitterness and division. He cited how Vatican II occurred at a time when documents could be produced that saw no winners of losers. Sadly, today there wouldn't be such consensus. The media is helping to inflame bitterness and division. Fr. Ron said we end up bracketing three of the most fundamental virtues there are: respect, charity, and graciousness. We do it under the title of cause or truth. He said Jesus was neither liberal or conservative. Instead he goes wherever truth and charity take him. Fr. Ron said the solution is in the Gospel. He pointed out Christ's opening word: metanoia. We translate it to English as “repent”. The Greek word literally means to “put on a higher mind”. It rejects the fear and ideology of paranoia. Christ could be saying, “trust and believe there can be good news.” We either go to “metanoia” “the big mind” or “paranoia” “small mind”. Then he talked about Christ washing the feet of the apostles. On one level it's Christ showing the apostles how to serve one another. On another level, it's about crossing dividing lines. It's not about saying truth is relative. It's about how we talk and have a dialogue. entering a conversation with the intent to prove the other wrong is not a dialogue. Intending to understand is a dialogue. What happens is that the extreme positions take over the dialogue and the middle is marginalized. Even if we don't agree, we owe each other respect and charity. There tends to be mean-spiritedness on both sides, but you don't see it in Jesus. Scot asked how he address this to Catholic education. Fr. Ron said we have to form Catholic minds and Catholic hearts. The word catholic means universal. We need to form a huge heart, a big mind, a Catholic mind. He said the theme of all his work is to help people to face the mystery of God in their lives.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Dr. Mary Grassa-O'Neill, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Jim Walsh, Associate Superintendent for Finance and Administration Links from today's show: Today's topics: Catholic Schools Week: Wrapup Summary of today's show: In our last show of Catholic Schools Week, Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell welcome Mary Grassa-O'Neill and Jim Walsh from the Catholic Schools Office to give listeners more examples of how Catholic schools around the Archdiocese celebrated, including students performing in Chinese at Boston College High and a human rosary at Holy Family in Rockland. They then discussed the success of Catholic schools in Boston, including the first rise in enrollment in decades and tools for principals and pastors to use to better ensure financial viability and strategize for future success in ensuring every child who wants an education steeped in the Catholic faith can have one. 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Mark discussed the Super Bowl on Sunday then discussed the meeting of the Cardinal's Cabinet. Fr. Mark said the meeting was very forward-looking. Fr. Mark said it's also the Feast of St. Blaise and he's been blessing many throats today. On the day after the Feast of the Presentation, on which the candles are blessed, the candles are used for the blessing. He offered the same blessing to anyone who hadn't been able to receive it today. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Mark welcomed Mary and Jim to the show. Scot asked Mary for her highlights of the week. She said it's exciting because there are so many activities. She said it begins with the special themed Masses, many of which take place in the parishes last Sunday and others which have them each day. BC High had a program this week called “Chinese Idol,” in which students performed in Chinese, to encourage them to continue to learn Chinese and learn Chinese culture. They were accompanied by an all-strings orchestra from Beijing. They offer nine levels of Chinese instruction and send students to China each year. She said we have to do more in our schools to prepare students for engaging Asian cultures in the future. Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy in Neponset also had a big Chinese celebration. Meanwhile, Holy Family School in Rockland did a human rosary, with each student being one of the prayers. St. Agatha's in Milton had a standing-room only Mass that had over 600 students plus more from the community. Trinity Catholic in Brockton had the mayor and public school superintendent come in to read to the children and they had career days. That is a big school as well with 560 students on two campuses. Mary said the National Catholic Education Association provides suggestions, but schools come up with their own ideas. Quincy Catholic Academy students learned about filmmaking and made stop-motion movies. Other schools take educational field trips. Scot said there seems to be three purposes: school spirit, highlight the Catholic identity, and market the schools to potential students. Jim said it's also an opportunity to celebrate the sense of community. Many honor and give tribute to the religious orders that founded and staffed those schools, teaching about former principals and teachers, for example. They welcome in former students as well as parents and grandparents to see what's going on in the schools. Fr. Mark talked about the connection between the pastors of the parish and the schools. Mary told a story of one child with cancer at St. Mary in Melrose who had chemo but was afraid to come back with no hair so the pastor, Fr. Sullivan, got a local barber and five classmates (with permission of their parents) and they all shaved their heads in solidarity, Fr. Sullivan too. Scot said Catholic Schools Office has three main themes: Strengthening Catholic identity, enhancing academic excellence, and giving vitality to finances. Mary said academic excellence is critical because it's using God's gifts to their fullest. Fr. Mark said not all students are Catholic and we have a mission to educate everyone. Mary said 82% of students are Catholic, and non-Catholic students know they will be asked to participate in the Catholic life of the schools. Scot said Jim also participates in Catholic Schools Week as a parent with children at Xaverian Brothers in Westwood and St. Catherine of Siena in Norwood. He talked about how his own kids took part in events at their schools. He said they had open houses for potential students and their families next year. 3rd segment: Mary told a story of how the students and teachers of St. Catherine's in Norwood lined the streets during the funeral procession of a soldier who died in Afghanistan. The students held their hands over their hearts and waved flags silently to give comfort to the soldier's family and promote the Gospel ideal of laying one's life down one's friends. Jim said there are 123 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, 89 of them are Archdiocesan parish or Archdiocesan-related schools. Some schools are separately incorporated or owned by religious orders. All of the schools participate in archdiocesan events. The five Catholic colleges also participate and cooperate with the Catholic Schools Office. Mary said there are many Catholic school leaders and the team at CSO help focus on Catholic identity, excellence in academics, and a strong and viable business plan. She said one example of a Catholic school that's taken their help to heart is St. Agnes in Arlington. They had an assessment of their business plan and completely redesigned it so that the parish no longer has to provide financial support to the Catholic. The CSO undertook a study of the business plans and finances of all the Catholic elementary schools and came up with a snapshot of each school and a tool to help monitor and track how the school is doing over time. It gave a whole new vocabulary to pastors and principals because they're not usually trained in business. In the past, the Archdiocese would sometimes hear of a school in distress at the last minute and this tool helps the CSO to monitor schools and give assistance long before the situation gets desperate. Scot asked Jim how the CSO helps schools that are in the danger. He noted that school enrollment in Catholic schools is up for the first time in decades. Jim said schools have generally fallen into three zones, red, yellow and green. They've used this “dashboard” tool to help schools under the metrics that drive the viability of schools, keeping in mind the competitive environment for private schools. The CSO has had several workshops to teach school leaders to understand the metrics and develop a strategy. For example, they're showing schools to strategize their funds to increase ongoing income as opposed to single-time gifts. Scot said a key to a successful Catholic school is the principal and asked how they look for a good fit for each school. Mary said they have helped 45 schools find a new principals in the past few years. They help the school define the job requirements and what they're looking for, hold parish meetings, help form screening committees, and provide other assistance. Mary said our principals are very talented, especially when you see the results. Catholic school students are far outpacing their public school peers in achievement of all kinds. Yet the principals are being compensated, in general, at well below market rate. Scot said a part of the success is getting the word out about the value of Catholic education. Mary said we have to promote our own good news. Catholic school students graduate at a 98% rate, ethnic minorities do better than their public school counterparts, and Catholic school students attend college at a higher rate. Part of the reason is that our people really care about Catholic education, invest a lot of themselves, and focus on what it is they're trying to accomplish. Jim said he's proud of a number of initiatives and recommendations that have taken place in recent years. One of the first was the opening of Trinity Catholic Academy in Brockton. It has a stable enrollment base and many pastoral, educational and social service programs such that the school is often the best thing happening in those kids' lives. He then spoke of Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy which has 1,300 students on four campuses in Boston's inner city. They've now create a Xaverian Brothers-sponsored Catholic high school in Lowell, which is now at capacity with a waiting list. Jim said these intiatives help build the Church in urban areas, but also help stabilize neighborhoods. He cited the example of the St. Peter teen center at Pope John Paul II that provides a place for children well into the night. Mary said Catholic schools provide benefits that surpass your expectations including learning in a Christ-centered environment that promotes a sense of teamwork, community, and caring. 4th segment: Now as we do every week at this time, we will consider the Mass readings for this Sunday, specifically the Gospel reading. Job spoke, saying: Is not man's life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of hirelings? He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted to me. If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?” then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; they come to an end without hope. Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again. Gospel for February 5, 2012, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 1:29-39) On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee. Scot said in these readings, suffering is very present. In the first reading we only hear part of the story of Job, in which people doubted Job's faithfulness because he was so blessed. So the blessings were withheld and remained faithful to God. In the Gospel there was much suffering as well and those sufferers came to Jesus and were healed. Fr. Mark said the message of Job is incomplete. The completion of the message of sacrifice and the problem of pain is in the healing message of Jesus. Mary said the first reading makes her think how love of God and faithfulness comes from within. Scot said in the Gospel Jesus healed people one on one. He didn't heal whole crowds at once, but brought his love to the individual. Jim said when we are praying, our prayer sustains us in those difficulties. Often when we pray, we can recognize those who come into our lives as an answer to prayer. Our prayer life sustains us. Fr. Mark said Jesus is the busiest person around. He's got three years to do everything and people are flocking to him, but notice how the Gospel writers say he rose and went to prayer. He always found time to pray. There's no one busier than our Lord, but he finds time to pray.