by Bishop James Conley
Catholic Schools play an essential role in the Church’s evangelizing mission of bringing the gospel to the ends of the earth. The most popular title for our Lord, Jesus Christ, was rabboni, which means “teacher” in Hebrew.
This is why I look forward every year to Catholic Schools Week. It gives me the chance to celebrate the gift of Catholic education in the Diocese of Lincoln by traveling across southern Nebraska and visiting our Catholic elementary and high schools.
Catholic Schools Week also gives me the chance to express my gratitude for our Catholic schools. First of all, I thank almighty God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for inviting us to participate in the teaching mission of his Catholic Church, and for guiding us with his grace and wisdom.
Parents are the first and primary educators of the children. On their wedding day, spouses make the solemn promise “to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church.” I would like to thank the parents who have entrusted their children’s intellectual, spiritual, and human formation to our Catholic schools. Choosing Catholic education requires much from a family—the investment of time, expertise, and finances. Thank you for trusting us enough to assist you in forming your children for fruitful, happy and purposeful life in this world, and a life eternal happiness in the next.
I would also like to thank our educators and school administrators, both past and present. There are so many “giants” in our schools—administrators, teachers, and staff members who have given their lives to building up the future leaders of the Catholic Church in this diocese and beyond.
I thank the many priests and religious who have dedicated their lives to the service of our schools. Their presence and the witness of their total gift of self to Jesus Christ is a large part of what makes our schools so unique. We have 48 priests and 37 religious sisters who are teachers or administrators in our schools. I know of no other diocese in the country that can claim those numbers.
While we would never pretend that attending Catholic school is the only reason that one would discern a vocation to the diocesan priesthood, it is worth noting that 75% of our diocesan priests attended a Catholic school. And when we look to our younger priests, the number grows—more than 80% of our priests under the age of 40 were educated in Catholic schools. The seeds that are planted in our Catholic schools bear much fruit in our efforts to form future leaders of the Church.
I thank our parishes, who fund nearly half of the cost of educating each student in our Catholic schools. The education of our children is truly a mission of the entire community, and we are grateful for this investment in the future of our Church. Without the support of our parish communities, we would never be able to make our Catholic schools affordable for any family, regardless of their economic situation.
For decades, the Diocese of Lincoln has remained committed to authentically Catholic schools, and that commitment carries on to this day.
As our culture and society seem to be drifting further and further away from a traditional Christian anthropology and worldview, this commitment is more critical today than ever. Therefore, as someone educated entirely through the public school system, I invite all parents who are reading these words to consider our excellent schools as an option for their child’s education.
We are unapologetically Catholic. In partnership with parents, the Diocese of Lincoln Catholic Schools form students in grades K-12 spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically, in harmony with each child’s unique, God-given gifts. The strong presence of priests and religious in our schools provides an environment where values-based learning is paramount, and embodies the teachings of Christ with unwavering fidelity to the Catholic Church. We model Christ in our actions. Joy, beauty and wonder are the hallmarks of our educational experience where reason, logic and truth guide our curriculum. We teach respect for self and others, while encouraging personal discipline and virtue.
We are countercultural. Catholic education has an important role in the evangelization and renewal of our culture and our world, and it starts in our homes and continues in our schools. Because of the efforts of parents, teachers, pastors and bishops, our schools have done extraordinary work to fulfill our mission.
As I mentioned above, the parish community’s support is critical to the success of our Catholic schools. This partnership ensures our schools are within reach – financially, spiritually and educationally. We embrace students of all backgrounds, faiths and abilities.
Our Catholic schools are strong and fruitful, thriving centers of Christian life, forming generations of students for lives of holiness and excellence. I am proud of our Catholic schools and eternally grateful to God for the decades of sacrifices and leadership that has made them thrive. We can see their fruit in priests, religious and faithful Catholics of the Diocese of Lincoln, who are earnestly striving to glorify the Lord through the holiness of their lives.
We. Are. Catholic. End of Story? No. It’s just the beginning.
The beginning of a journey where faith is the center of everything. The foundation of a lifetime.
The beginning of forming moral, disciplined and respectful people.
The beginning of an academic experience that is exceptional and accessible to anyone who wants it.
The beginning of a life that sees beauty, truth, and wonder in the world, and is called to share with others.
If you’re looking for a school that is authentically Catholic, distinctly different, and surprisingly possible, consider Diocese of Lincoln Catholic Schools.
Take the first step, it’s just the beginning.
