Bishop Conley recently released his pastoral letter, "One Heart in Christ," the Diocese of Lincoln's pastoral plan. If you have not read it yet, I highly recommend it! He really speaks to the heart, which fits with his motto, "Cor ad cor loquitur!" (Literally translated, "Heart speaks to Heart".)
The four main sections focus on parishes, education, religious vocations and marriage/family life. Education is our main focus here at school, but they definitely all overlap with one another.
It has made me reflect on our founder, Bishop Flavin, and the priorities that he had for our Diocese as well. He really wanted a strong Catholic laity, and he saw that the best way to do that was through strong Catholic schools, with the presence of religious Sisters working alongside the laity--laying the foundation among our children and building up family life at the same time. All of this with the ultimate goal of making saints--that each one of us become saints, and that we form our children into future saints.
We have been blessed with several bishops in a row who all value Catholic education. At one point in the letter, Bishop Conley talks about the faith formation our children receive in our schools and other ministries. He asks the question, "How do we firm up that foundation so the faith principles a child learns in a fourth grade classroom provide the basis for the faith decisions he or she will make as an adult?" This isn't limited to fourth grade, but includes all ages. It's also not limited to teachers. Each one of us can contribute to the formation of our children: staff members, teachers, priests, sisters, parents.
Our children will be faced with difficult decisions on the road ahead. We can help provide them with the answers they seek, and the direction to go to find those answers: Jesus Christ. Even should they at times, leave the path, remember that "Not all those who wander are lost." Let's give them reason to never leave or when they find themselves "dying from hunger" (cf. Luke 15:17), return home.

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Upcoming Events

• Thursday, April 23: Walk the Little Way 1 p.m.
• Friday, April 24: Early dismissal 1 p.m.; 4th grade server training 1-3 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25: Track Meet 9:30 a.m.: field events, Noon: running events
• Monday, April 27: 4th grade field trip; JH Choir holy hour 7 p.m. at the Newman Center
• Wednesday, April 29: 7B Class Mass
• Thursday, April 30: Spring Concert (K-4) 7 p.m.
• Friday, May 1: Bishop's Day Off

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