MILLTOWN — Micah Sumner has accomplished quite a bit in his personal and professional lives. He has dedicated his life to Catholic education, currently serving as assistant superintendent of schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. And he is the proud father of seven children, so he (and his wife, Celina), are molding minds at home as well as in the office.
It was a lesson learned, however, outside the classroom that he spoke about during his keynote address at the Diocesan Schools Office’s annual Spirituality Day. The event brought hundreds of Catholic school teachers to Saint Mark’s High School on Aug. 20 for a day of prayer, celebration and information.
Sumner recalled that as a young teenager in Huntington Beach, Calif., he would sneak a few candy bars from the snack bar at St. Bonaventure School. He apparently tripped a silent alarm, and when he emerged from the room, a police officer was waiting for him.
He called his mother from the station, and he did some praying. The first voice he heard was that of the school principal, Sister Sheila. She repeated his name over and over in her Irish brogue.
“I knew she was there to help me,” he said. “I knew that she was my angel. No one needed to explain it to me. It was like a voice from heaven.”
Principal and student went to get ice cream, and Sister Sheila told Sumner he had a mission.
“We spent the whole afternoon talking about life, about what it was to have a mission. She gave me the entirety of a life lesson in one afternoon,” he said.
A year later, Sister Sheila was given a new assignment back in Ireland. Sumner never spoke to her except for that one afternoon. There were a few messages in that day, aside from not stealing candy bars.
The story fits in with the theme of the diocesan schools this year, “By name you are called.” It was a miracle that Sister Sheila knew his name; he was one of 1,000 students at St. Bonaventure.
“It resonates so much with me,” he said.
In addition, the nun was an answer to his prayer. God knew that moment was going to happen. She was the face of Christ.
“Christ is seen in the other. Primarily, where Christ is seen, is with us, is with connecting with one another,” he said. “I hope you go forth this year understanding that there are children that God has put in front of you … whether a big kid or a little kid, they need you.”
Sumner asked the crowd how many of them remembered their third-grade teachers. Almost every hand went up. He reminded them that in 30 years, their students will remember their names and the little things those men and women did for them.
Sumner brought his guitar with him and spent part of his time leading the crowd in song. He told them of his love for “The Sound of Music” There is something in the story of Maria von Trapp, he said, and her singing about God’s goodness and the gift of life.
“That spirit, that attitude she has, is something I desperately want. It’s something that exists simply by having a deep connection with God,” he said.
Sumner’s talk was also dotted with humor. He spoke about the top five benefits of being a Catholic school educator. The first is that it’s a ticket to heaven.
“We’re all going to be hanging out in heaven in just a few years. Purgatory doesn’t exist for this room,” he said.
Second is that it promotes a healthy lifestyle. He said he reaches 10,000 steps daily with no problem. Next is that they live their lives in a prayerful environment. For him, Thursday Mass is especially welcome because he gets to sit down and let someone else do the talking for 45 minutes.
Fourth, Catholic school teachers get to celebrate God’s existence in a very special way. No one is getting rich in this profession, but they do experience providence.
“The Lord provides,” he said. “In working in this ministry, I’ve seen it. I want for nothing.”
Lastly, Catholic educators get to be part of the universal church. People want to be part of something bigger than themselves. Children, Sumner said, need Catholic educators.
