The times, they are a'changin'. Wow! Today was the kick-off for Catholic Schools Week. All of the Mount Carmel Students had to wear their uniforms and attend the morning Mass in their respective churches. About three dozen came to San Vicente Church.
I've witnessed the beginning of Catholic Schools Week as a parishoner for many years. The usual sermon tells us how wonderful a Catholic education is and urges all parents to send their children to Catholic school. I've heard this sermon from Father Roger and Father Manny. I enrolled my seventh grader in Mount Carmel this year, for the first time. So I was expecting, and possibly loooking forward to, the preening by the students and praise from the pulpit for our beautiful children.
Father Charlie Borja is one brave, and truly Christian, priest. He did the unexpected. He spoke to the children instead of their parents, and he cautioned them against thinking they're better than the kids who go to public schools. Period. The gospel told of the rejection of Jesus because he was just the son of Joseph, a poor carpenter. Father Charlie said it's not for us to reject others based on wealth or poverty, ethnicity or appearance, education or vocation. He didn't dilute his message by giving any reasons why parents should send children to Catholic schools.
It was Mass for the kick-off of Catholic Schools Week and there was no advertising for the Catholic school--except that for the first time, a parish priest let his actions (not just his words) speak the gospel. It was pretty wonderful.
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1 comment:
Thank you for sharing. This is a message that needs to be shared much more than it is.
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