By John Rohlf
The Message assistant editor
Over 500 educators participated in the Diocese of Evansville’s annual Back to School Mass ahead of the 2024-2025 school year.
This year’s Mass was hosted by Good Shepherd Parish in Evansville. Educators from the 26 Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Evansville filled Good Shepherd Church after hearing from speaker Cathy Tooley, CEO of Tools for Success. After Mass, awards were presented to educators throughout the diocese for milestone years of service.
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel celebrated the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit. There were about 20 priests who concelebrated the Mass. Deacon Dan Niemeier, president of Mater Dei High School, and Deacon Clint Johnson assisted. New principals Nancy Dukes and Megan Wright were gift bearers. Dukes is the new principal at Resurrection School in Evansville, and Wright is the new principal at St. Benedict Cathedral School in Evansville.
Bishop Siegel delivered the homily at the Aug. 1 Mass. He said in order for us to prepare to be witnesses, we need to know our faith well and be deeply rooted in the Catholic faith. He said we need to constantly grow in knowledge and understanding of our faith through reading and studying, as well as taking advantage of opportunities for continuing formation in theology and spirituality.
Most of all, we need to remain rooted in Christ and to open ourselves to the guidance of the Spirit of Truth through a solid spiritual life, Bishop Siegel said. He said this includes attending Sunday Mass and receiving the sacraments, regular daily prayer, reading the Scriptures, praying the Rosary and other devotions. Bishop Siegel said a consistent, devout life of prayer is vital for those called by our baptism and the vocation of teaching.
Bishop Siegel said as they celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit in preparation for another school year, they prayed for a deeper outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives, schools, diocese and communities. He said they prayed the Holy Spirit will help them to use his gifts to continue the mission of the apostles in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to the students in the diocese and help form them as friends and apostles of Christ. This is what Catholic schools are for and why the educators are commissioned as ministers of our faith to young people, Bishop Siegel said.
Bishop Siegel said our schools need to be Catholic not only for the one hour a day religion is taught. He said our faith should permeate every subject taught, every sport played and every activity and club that is organized. In all that they do and say in their Catholic school, they should help the young people to encounter Christ in his church, grow in holiness and become those missionary disciples who use their God-given gifts to live their faith and share it with others.
Bishop Siegel said the educators as teachers, administrators, pastors and priests have the special privilege and responsibility to help parents fulfill their commitment they made at Baptism to form their children in the Catholic faith. He said by witness and example, they are to demonstrate to the students what it means to be a follower of Christ. He said the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to help them fulfill this great commission.
Diocesan Catholic School students returned to the classroom starting Aug. 2. All diocesan schools were back in session by Aug. 8.
