Catholic School educators pray at the Mass of the Holy Spirit Aug. 19 at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)
“Deliberate effort” is required for Catholic school instructors to continue their important mission of education and evangelization, said Bishop Larry Silva during a special Mass of the Holy Spirit, Aug. 19.
About 600 teachers and administrators from Hawaii’s Catholic schools gathered at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe for the annual liturgy. The Holy Spirit Mass is part of a morning of fellowship and discussion aimed at preparing educators for the start of a new academic year.
Joining the Catholic school educators at St. Ann Church were diocesan staff members from the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Augustine Educational Foundation and Office of Religious Education. Several priests representing parish schools and the Diocesan Board of Education concelebrated the Mass.
Bishop Silva in his homily focused on the daunting task Catholic schools face to proclaim the Gospel in today’s secularized world. Earlier this year, the bishop engaged in talks with Gov. Neil Abercrombie about a possible bill that would create some public funding for Catholic early learning centers. This money, however, would only apply to secular subjects, Bishop Silva said.
But in Catholic schools, it is impossible to separate the secular from the non-secular, he said. God is rooted in all that teachers share with their students.
“Such a dichotomy is simply not in our way of thinking,” Bishop Silva said. “Every subject is religious because its beauty and truth reflect the one who is beauty and truth itself.”
This notion is a “good place to reflect upon our mission,” he said. “It is the Holy Spirit that leads us to all truth, but we need to listen to the Word of God and to keep it.”
The bishop acknowledged the diligence of Catholic school teachers and administrators in establishing a solid faith foundation for students, in addition to providing them with advanced academic training.
“We are inspired always by your total dedication and the many hours that you give to this important work,” he noted.
Following the Mass, Hawaii Catholic Schools superintendent Michael Rockers served as the keynote speaker in a talk about Catholic identity.
