Transcript From our Mission Statement

At a Crossroads
• Proposed changes to our local schools
• Review process underway
• We hold meaningful connections to Our Lady of
Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima Schools
• We bring our own perspectives, insights,
concerns to the discussion
• Change can often be difficult and fearful, but can
also provide hope and opportunity – what to do?
• In all of this, we can rely on our faith to guide us
From our Mission Statement …
“Guided by the Spirit on our journey,
together with family and Church,
we mutually invite, encourage and
support one another in our efforts
to transform the world.”
A Faith Perspective
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As a Youth Minister and Religion Teacher
As a Home/School/Parish Liaison
As a Faith Animator for students and staff
As an active parishioner of Our Lady
of Fatima Church
• As a parent and citizen of Elliot Lake
To what is God calling us, and with whom are we
being asked to move forward in faith?
A Moment of Great Challenge
and Uncertainty
• Catholic system is under attack
• What we have had for many years is now
being threatened
• We can no longer take for granted the gift
of Catholic education given to us
• This requires us to become engaged in the
dialogue about Catholic schools, and
about the future … our common future
How Do We Respond?
• Crisis or opportunity? Paralysis or Action?
• We need a common message, purpose, mission – a
clear focus of who we are and what we believe
• We need to share our faith, encouraging one another to
model and live according to the Gospel - in a spirit of
unity and support
• We need to stand together with enthusiasm and an
openness/willingness to change how we do things
• What better way to do this than to physically and
logistically come together to promote what we have, and
to celebrate what we bring to each other and our city
“Be always humble, gentle and patient.
Show your love by being tolerant with
one another. Do your best to preserve
the unity which the Spirit gives by
means of the peace that binds you
together.”
Ephesians 4:2-3
Growing Together in Faith
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Special Events
Masses and Liturgies
N.E.T. Retreat
Youth Group
Parish Community
High School
*Connections are already being made
Christian Unity
“I pray that they may all be one. Father! May
they be in us, just as you are in me and I am
in you. May they be completely one, so that
the world will believe that you sent me.”
John 17:21
• Our schools have been working together in spirit
and faith for many years – why not, then,
together in one building?
Companions on the Journey
• We all have a responsibility to inspire and
empower all Catholic partners to come together
for a common cause and vision
• Rather than promoting two separate
communities, we have the opportunity to stand
together, in solidarity, to create a united and
stronger Catholic voice in Elliot Lake
• Coming together under one banner, in a spirit of
mutual cooperation, rooted in a Gospel of love
and understanding … we can reach out to the
needs of both communities to create a
strengthened learning environment
Hope in Renewal
• In a time of crisis, there is always an opportunity
for renewal as the journey continues
• In recognizing our Catholic schools as a gift, and
our mission to evangelize, we can help bring
about public and visible change in our community
• Doing this through the lens of faith, in the spirit of
being “church” together, allows us to provide a
holistic education for our students, and strengthen
our commitment to a Catholic system that is
deliberately different and united in purpose
“And so we shall all come together to
that oneness in our faith and in our
knowledge of the Son of God … by
speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we
must grow up in every way to Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13,15
“We are called to act justly, love tenderly
and walk humbly with our God.”
Micah 6:8
What is the just and loving thing to do?
• For our students, children
• For our school staffs and school board
• For our parents, guardians and families
• For our parish and community
• For the future of Catholic education
We Gather Together
on the Journey
We gather today in the name of our God.
We gather to share, support, encourage,
celebrate, and learn from each other.
We gather as people who journey in faith.
Although our pathways are different, our
journey is the same.
A journey once taken alone, we now choose
to take with others.
Moving forward as one body, into a future
filled with possibility, we walk without
maps, but we walk … confidently,
and we walk with hope, because we have
chosen to be light for each other on the
way.
We travel forward along a way we have not
gone before;
we travel as one who is led, arms outstretched,
as one who is called forth to life.
We travel in need, dependent on our God for
strength and assurance,
dependent on each other, instruments of love,
leaving known paths behind us,
we choose to journey forward in faith.
As the journey brought us here,
so here we begin it anew,
in company together.
Amen