WILKES-BARRE – As a new academic year begins in the Diocese of Scranton’s 19 Catholic schools, teachers and administrators are being challenged to let their faith shine brightly for all to see.
“Your light shines more brightly than you might imagine,” the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, said during his homily at the Diocesan Teachers’ Institute Mass, which was held on Sept. 25 at Saint Nicholas Church.
“The children entrusted to your care, the young men and women, are who they are because of who you are every day,” Bishop Bambera continued.
During his homily, the bishop thanked the hundreds of educators in attendance for helping students have a reverence for Catholic rituals and prayers. After visiting each school for Mass last academic year, the bishop said that reverence is “palpable.”
“Your appreciation for and your willingness to teach Catholic values is also obvious, and those are the values that set us apart from other fine educational opportunities, and the values that are at the heart of why we have a Catholic School System,” he added.
During the Mass, the educators recited the ‘Prayer of Commitment’ to the ideals of Catholic education.
“We are grateful to have this opportunity to pray together,” Kristen Donohue, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education/Superintendent of Catholic Schools, said.