Parents and teachers united in hope
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
On Oct. 28 last year, Pope Leo issued an apostolic letter called Drawing New Maps of Hope. The Holy Father wants us to make sure that our schools are places where our young people can find their way in our world. Sometimes, we think so much about techniques or practical skills that we lose sight of the bigger picture. The Pope would have us, as teachers of our youth, place guiding stars before their eyes so that like sailors in training they may know how to reach the distant shore.
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
On Oct. 28 last year, Pope Leo issued an apostolic letter called Drawing New Maps of Hope. The Holy Father wants us to make sure that our schools are places where our young people can find their way in our world. Sometimes, we think so much about techniques or practical skills that we lose sight of the bigger picture. The Pope would have us, as teachers of our youth, place guiding stars before their eyes so that like sailors in training they may know how to reach the distant shore.
We Catholics have always sought to hand on what we ourselves have received: the truth. And that truth is that each one of us has human dignity and that we must seek and promote this truth with all our fellow human beings. We are all destined for fellowship with one another and for communion with God. Anything else may be of some partial assistance in living in our world today, but it is less than human beings, made in the image of God, demand.
Of vital importance for the success of such formation is the modeling of this dignity both by our teachers and by our parents. If these two groups need continuing formation themselves to fulfill these tasks, then it is our duty as Church to provide that. It is always about the big picture. And ultimately, it is valuing those gifts of faith, hope, and charity, which have been implanted in each of us at our baptism.
With such a foundation, it is much easier to apply our instruction to the times we face, to social, political, and religious conflict, to our environment, to immigration, and to poverty, to new technologies and artificial intelligence. It is the promotion of truth, and right and wrong, and the formation of conscience that become the stars guiding us on our journey through life. It is the goal of heaven that sets the purpose for all that we do.
Yet, our approach is not one of circling the wagons or condemning the world. It is rather, not only pointing to the stars but being stars for all around us, those lights in the world of which Jesus spoke. We are here to win over to the kingdom not only our own young people, but by developing them into the proper yeast, that they may leaven the whole and bring about a great harvest, a great feast, a great wedding of the Lamb of God.
Many thanks to our wonderful parents and teachers, all of whom are both educators and formators of our young. And many thanks to the grandparents out there who are so willing to be of help as we all work so diligently to prepare the next generation of Catholics and leaders in our world.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing
