Happy Catholic Education Week!
Today we launch Catholic Education Week in our schools, grounded by the theme: Rebuild, Restore, and Renew Together!
As we emerge from the burdens of the pandemic and the unprecedented loss we have experienced during this time, this year’s theme speaks to us in a very compelling way. We have journeyed together throughout the past two years, but now we join as one family in Christ to re-energize and re-animate our faith and our schools. Each staff, student and family member at Waterloo Catholic is a vital piece of our beautiful tapestry that is Catholic education in the region. In each person we see the face of Christ and a companion on the journey.
We have accompanied one another through some significant challenges and still found joy to share and to provide to the students we serve. This week’s joyous theme invites us into a world of possibilities. A world where we rediscover the simple pleasures of the classroom and the sacraments, where we rebuild our confidence in all that we can be as Children of God, where we restore the strong collective practices that define us as community, where we renew our dedication to being “Heart of the Community, providing success for each and a place for all” and where we rejoice in all that we can accomplish together.
Our schools truly are heart of the community – perhaps over these past few years more than ever before. Sometimes our bonds as community have been stretched by the tensions of the pandemic. Let us now lean into the beautiful theme of this year’s Catholic Education Week and the Biblical quote that grounds it: “Behold, I make all things new.” As an Easter people we are people of the resurrection and perhaps now, more than ever we can celebrate this good news.
Our pastoral theme this year at Waterloo Catholic is Sent to Build. It has been beautiful to see our bridges in each Family of Schools take on the vibrancy of each school community, as we all contribute to our vision of a united community, bridging to all in our care.
May each of you both feel and celebrate the love and hope of our risen Lord that is at the core of all our Waterloo Catholic schools.
Sincerely,
Loretta Notten
