Just two weeks ago the 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, concluded in Paris, France. There, 10,672 athletes from 196 countries competed in 32 different sports.
The opening ceremony included the lighting of the Olympic Torch which burned brightly from the start of the games through their conclusion. For 16 days the best athletes in the world were featured in the competitions demonstrating commitment, skill, and perseverance.
Next week 1,138 Catholic school educators will begin a new school year serving 9,007 students in parish, diocesan, and independent early education centers, elementary schools, and high schools in the Diocese of Wilmington. In so many ways these individuals are the Olympians of education. For the next 180 school days these Olympians will demonstrate commitment, skill, and perseverance similar to the athletes in Paris. Their Olympic Torch, the Light of Christ, will burn brightly in their hearts and in the classrooms.
The Olympians of Education demonstrate commitment to the mission of Catholic education, namely, proclaiming Jesus Christ and his Gospel. By their lives Catholic school teachers seek to live as witnesses to the faith. In fact, their success as Catholic school educators may be attributed to an explanation given by Pope St. Paul VI when he explained that people tend to listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if they do listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.
Catholic school teachers demonstrate their skill by leading students to the most important event of the week – the Eucharist. In most schools students have the opportunity to attend Mass during the week, in addition to participating in Mass each weekend. In addition, through regular prayer times throughout each school day, religious instruction, and opportunities to offer service, Catholic school teachers lead their students to deepen their relationship with the Lord.
But the skill of Catholic school teachers extends far beyond the fostering of faith in the lives of their students. In academic rigor Catholic schools excel. In the past year 3,265 graduates from the seven parish, diocesan, and independent Catholic high schools garnered more than $125 million in scholarships to colleges and universities. Such success is not limited simply to those moving on from high schools. In early childhood, elementary, and secondary programs, teachers challenge and celebrate student learning each day through the curriculum and in instruction. Their education, expertise and experience lead students to analyze, to evaluate and to create.
Olympians learn to persevere, despite the challenges that may come their way. The operation of a Catholic school is a financial challenge. Tuitions in elementary schools hover around $7,000 per student and at the high school level, tuitions are in the range of $15,000 per student. Although families make tremendous sacrifices because they value quality Catholic education, often schools rely on the generous support of parishioners to continue their mission. Despite obstacles, Catholic school leaders persevere in the mission.
Individually, Catholic school educators persevere, even at their own personal expense of time and treasure. Often Catholic school teachers, whose salary compared with teachers in state-run schools is significantly less, assume second jobs to remain in Catholic school education. They purchase classroom and instructional resources at personal expense to aid in the teaching and learning of students. They show up – at school events, fundraisers, academic tournaments, athletic competitions, and other occasions, not because they are compensated, but because they know what the gift of presence means to students. Perseverance is essential for these dedicated servants.
Catholic school educators are true Olympians whose commitment, skill, and perseverance rival what the world witnessed two weeks ago. And it is the Torch of Faith, the Light of Jesus Christ, which inspires them to do all they do. In the Olympic Games, the torch flame is always lit by the sun in Olympia, Greece, as this is where the first Greek games was held.
Then, it’s passed from torch to torch in a massive international relay that ends in the host city. In the same way, Jesus Christ is our Light in Catholic schools and through the work of Catholic school educators in the Diocese of Wilmington, the flame of faith is passed from teacher to student every day. May God bless the Olympian Educators of the Diocese of Wilmington as the 2024-2025 school year begins.
Lou De Angelo is superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Wilmington.
