As winter begins to hit full stride, and the days are short, Green Bay diocesan religious education director Rosie Bartel gives us some tips we can use to keep our spirits up.
Let’s face it: sometimes the month of January can seem not much fun. You can feel stressed, irritable, overextended, sick of snow and so tired. Christmas is over and you may be feeling pangs of regret that you did not make them as enjoyable and meaningful as you planned.
There is a solution to this January plight that plagues many of us each year. The answer is to learn to live in the moment.
We all know people who are always looking back at the past or are stressing about the future. Both types lose the joy of the present moment and they do not even realize what they are missing.
My three year old granddaughter showed our family on Christmas Eve how important it is to “stay in the day” and live in the moment. As we were all hustling and bustling about the “tasks of Christmas preparation” she stopped all of us to announce loudly: “It is Jesus’ birthday!” After she had all of our attention, she quietly went back to playing her little-girl games. It left all of us, who were not so focused on the real importance of the moment, a little surprised that the youngest among us had the real meaning of Christmas down to a few words. The other surprise was that she knew the meaning of the day and was staying in the day.
This led me to think about ten tips on how to cultivate a “stay in the day” way of living.
Adjust Your Attitude. We are often our own worst enemy. We put unrealistic goals on ourselves with the idea that everything must be “perfect”. But what if you thought the exact opposite? What if you gave up on perfectionism and decided to just let life happen? The key to success is finding ways to appreciate each moment of every day. The answer is in “letting God”.
Eat Slowly. Savor your every bite you take. Appreciate those provided and prepared the food you eat. It is also wise to pay attention to what you eat. Moderation is key to good health.
Keep Moving. If you do not exercise, start slowly today. Go outside, fill your lungs with fresh air and appreciate God’s gift of nature.
Breathe. When people are stressed, they tend to hold their breath or hyperventilate. Neither one is good for you. The best way to regulate your breathing is to turn to prayer. Imagine that you are breathing in God’s love, then breath out tension, frustration or anything else that is troubling you.
Take Prayer Naps. A prayer nap is a lot like a catnap. The difference is that you imagine that you are resting in the arms of the Lord. Just find a quiet place and take a 10-15 minute prayer nap. You will notice a difference right away.
Relax. Set aside some “alone” time with God everyday. Concentrate on letting go of tension and relax every part of your body. Read an inspirational book or mediate on the daily scripture passage.
Laugh. Look for the humor in things that happen. Instead of complaining about something, make a conscience effort to laugh---even if you have to fake it until it comes naturally. Studies show that laughter reduces stress and elevates your mood. Learn to laugh at yourself. Remember, God has a great sense of humor.
Strive For Flexibility. Some of the greatest saints assure us that the duty of the moment is the will of God. That means you do not get upset by interruptions or changes in plans. You see these things as God’s way of directing you to whatever is important in the present moment.
Remind Yourself How Happy You Are. Cultivate feelings of gratitude for all of the good things in your life. Then look in the mirror and smile. Assure yourself that all is well. Thank God for the many gifts you have been given.
Make Memories. Treasure in your heart all the wonderful things that happen every day. These are the joys that you will carry with you throughout the years and way beyond 2009.
As you “stay in the day” in 2009, remember that the day is given to you by God. It is your opportunity to share your gift of Christ by sharing each moment with those you come in contact with each day.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Friday, November 7, 2008
Monica Bausom: A Model for "Doing Small Things With Great Love"
Catholic School educators and administrators think that going out of their way to help people is just another part of their job; they do it without thinking of themselves or counting the cost. Principal Monica Bausom at Seton Catholic Middle School in Menasha, WI, a member of the Twin City Catholic Education System, is certainly no exception. She is committed to living her life according to Mother Teresa’s challenge to “…do small things with great love,” and it shows. She is a witness to how God uses those with open hearts to reach out to his children.
If you start asking around the Catholic school families in Neenah-Menasha, a picture of a true Christian servant begins to take shape. There are numerous accounts of Ms. Bausom’s guidance and assistance that demonstrate her selfless dedication to bettering the education and lives of her students and their families.
A basic tenet of Ms. Bausom’s 18-year tenure as principal at the middle school is an open door policy for all students, their families and her faculty and staff. Ms. Bausom’s commitment to availability leads her to do whatever is needed, from visiting a school family’s home, to attending every school performance and many sporting events, to organizing and inspiring the Seton community to come to the aid of a school family devastated by the concurrent loss of income and a devastating illness.
The parents from that family remember being “scared beyond words,” but reluctant to accept help. Ultimately recognizing that God was truly working through Monica and the school community, the family received financial, moral, spiritual and physical support. The family’s Mom reflects, “Monica wears a bracelet with the quote ‘We can do no great things, only small things with great love.’ Our family is a great testimonial as to how she lives this each day!”
Ms. Bausom has great sensitivity to her students’ family dynamics, is sympathetic to the challenges of parenting middle school students, and is willing to go out of her way to address a troublesome situation. Ms. Bausom’s willingness to become personally invested has changed lives.
Consider, for example, the experience of a sixth grade student who desperately wanted to play basketball for the Seton team. Due to financial challenges and his mother’s unfamiliarity with the English language, he did not have the shoes and medical release forms that he needed to start the season. Ms. Bausom alerted her staff and a local agency to the need for shoes, and within the day there was enough money to purchase the equipment the student needed. She then personally drove the student and his mother to a clinic for a physical exam and saw to it that the bill was paid. The boy played ball, was an asset to the team and grew from the experience of being valued.
Students who struggle socially or academically in school (and their parents) find a strong advocate in Ms. Bausom. She takes a personal interest in these students, educating herself about any unfamiliar situations or diagnoses and keeping abreast of daily challenges and victories. Ms. Bausom is known throughout the community for being firm, but fair, with students and for always giving every child another chance. Shepherding families through the sometimes-difficult middle school years is truly part of her calling.
Ms. Monica Bausom truly exemplifies the qualities that make our Catholic school educators and administrators Christian leaders in our community. By consistently going beyond expectations and treating each student as a beloved creation of God, they personify the apostle Paul’s admonition to “in humility, count others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
In recognition of her ministry to the Seton community and long-term commitment to excellence, Ms. Bausom has been selected by the Diocese of Green Bay as its nominee for the National Catholic Educational Association’s Robert J. Kealy Distinguished Principal Award. Her application is currently being reviewed by NCEA’s regional selection committee in Chicago. The nominee from each regional group will be honored at the NCEA’s annual convention, and one or more principals will move on to the competition for the U.S. Department of Education’s National Distinguished Principal Award.
If you start asking around the Catholic school families in Neenah-Menasha, a picture of a true Christian servant begins to take shape. There are numerous accounts of Ms. Bausom’s guidance and assistance that demonstrate her selfless dedication to bettering the education and lives of her students and their families.
A basic tenet of Ms. Bausom’s 18-year tenure as principal at the middle school is an open door policy for all students, their families and her faculty and staff. Ms. Bausom’s commitment to availability leads her to do whatever is needed, from visiting a school family’s home, to attending every school performance and many sporting events, to organizing and inspiring the Seton community to come to the aid of a school family devastated by the concurrent loss of income and a devastating illness.
The parents from that family remember being “scared beyond words,” but reluctant to accept help. Ultimately recognizing that God was truly working through Monica and the school community, the family received financial, moral, spiritual and physical support. The family’s Mom reflects, “Monica wears a bracelet with the quote ‘We can do no great things, only small things with great love.’ Our family is a great testimonial as to how she lives this each day!”
Ms. Bausom has great sensitivity to her students’ family dynamics, is sympathetic to the challenges of parenting middle school students, and is willing to go out of her way to address a troublesome situation. Ms. Bausom’s willingness to become personally invested has changed lives.
Consider, for example, the experience of a sixth grade student who desperately wanted to play basketball for the Seton team. Due to financial challenges and his mother’s unfamiliarity with the English language, he did not have the shoes and medical release forms that he needed to start the season. Ms. Bausom alerted her staff and a local agency to the need for shoes, and within the day there was enough money to purchase the equipment the student needed. She then personally drove the student and his mother to a clinic for a physical exam and saw to it that the bill was paid. The boy played ball, was an asset to the team and grew from the experience of being valued.
Students who struggle socially or academically in school (and their parents) find a strong advocate in Ms. Bausom. She takes a personal interest in these students, educating herself about any unfamiliar situations or diagnoses and keeping abreast of daily challenges and victories. Ms. Bausom is known throughout the community for being firm, but fair, with students and for always giving every child another chance. Shepherding families through the sometimes-difficult middle school years is truly part of her calling.
Ms. Monica Bausom truly exemplifies the qualities that make our Catholic school educators and administrators Christian leaders in our community. By consistently going beyond expectations and treating each student as a beloved creation of God, they personify the apostle Paul’s admonition to “in humility, count others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
In recognition of her ministry to the Seton community and long-term commitment to excellence, Ms. Bausom has been selected by the Diocese of Green Bay as its nominee for the National Catholic Educational Association’s Robert J. Kealy Distinguished Principal Award. Her application is currently being reviewed by NCEA’s regional selection committee in Chicago. The nominee from each regional group will be honored at the NCEA’s annual convention, and one or more principals will move on to the competition for the U.S. Department of Education’s National Distinguished Principal Award.
Pastors/Parish Directors: Keys to a Strong Faith Formation Program
Rosie Bartel, religious education director, takes a look at Catholic education's true cheerleaders:
Most pastors/parish directors rely on the catechetical leaders to organize the program, recruit catechists, train them and set a vision for the many ways they educate members of the parish from childhood through adulthood. Pastors/parish directors need to support the catechetical leaders personally and the faith formation programs in general.
No priests/parish directors can spend as much time in faith formation as parents, children, parishioners and catechetical leaders would like. They need to devote time to other important needs in the parish as well as to their own renewal through prayer and relaxation. They need to balance their time.
Priests/parish directors can set some goals during the course of the year so they can promote and support faith formation programs. Here is list of some ways a priests/parish directors can stay actively involved in faith formation in a parish community.
Catechist Meeting
The pastors/parish directors can pop in at the beginning of a catechist meeting. They should be there for prayer. If food is offered, they can fill up a plate and visit a few minutes. They should use this time to express their thanks and help to share the vision of the parish for faith formation.
Greeting the Children
Pastors/parish directors are not always available when religious education for children is happening, but occasionally they should be on hand when the children arrive. It gives them a chance to greet them and their parents. Sometimes they can have spontaneous conversation with the parents that can lead to some valuable information, allowing them to follow up with special care for a particular family.
Parent Sacramental Preparation Sessions
Catechetical leaders should invite the pastors/parish directors to at least one session with the parents who are preparing for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. That way, they can interact with the parents; thank them for handing on the faith to their children. The pastors/parish directors can help parents deepen their appreciation of the sacraments.
Confirmation Preparation Sessions
Pastors/parish directors could lead one session with the youth or attend their retreat and/or sponsor sessions. It is a great time to invite them to fuller participate in parish life.
Catechist Appreciation
Catechetical leaders need to remember to check the schedule of the pastors/parish directors when planning a catechists’ appreciation get together. Pastors/parish directors like a party and this is a great time to let the catechist know how important they are to the parish community. Another time to thank catechist is on Catechetical Sunday. It is great to thank them with a small gift that they can use in their ministry.
In most parishes, it is important that the catechetical leaders and the pastors/parish directors plan the dates for these events in advance. This makes everyone’s calendaring for the year go much smoother.
Faith formation will not happen without strong catechetical leaders that are supported in their ministry by their pastors/parish directors. This reminds all of us not to take Catholic education for granted.
Parents, children and parishioners, this is a great time of the year to thank both your catechetical leaders and your pastors/parish directors for helping pass on the faith to all parishioners. When you are giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day, you might say an extra prayer for pastors/parish directors, catechetical leaders and catechist.
Most pastors/parish directors rely on the catechetical leaders to organize the program, recruit catechists, train them and set a vision for the many ways they educate members of the parish from childhood through adulthood. Pastors/parish directors need to support the catechetical leaders personally and the faith formation programs in general.
No priests/parish directors can spend as much time in faith formation as parents, children, parishioners and catechetical leaders would like. They need to devote time to other important needs in the parish as well as to their own renewal through prayer and relaxation. They need to balance their time.
Priests/parish directors can set some goals during the course of the year so they can promote and support faith formation programs. Here is list of some ways a priests/parish directors can stay actively involved in faith formation in a parish community.
Catechist Meeting
The pastors/parish directors can pop in at the beginning of a catechist meeting. They should be there for prayer. If food is offered, they can fill up a plate and visit a few minutes. They should use this time to express their thanks and help to share the vision of the parish for faith formation.
Greeting the Children
Pastors/parish directors are not always available when religious education for children is happening, but occasionally they should be on hand when the children arrive. It gives them a chance to greet them and their parents. Sometimes they can have spontaneous conversation with the parents that can lead to some valuable information, allowing them to follow up with special care for a particular family.
Parent Sacramental Preparation Sessions
Catechetical leaders should invite the pastors/parish directors to at least one session with the parents who are preparing for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. That way, they can interact with the parents; thank them for handing on the faith to their children. The pastors/parish directors can help parents deepen their appreciation of the sacraments.
Confirmation Preparation Sessions
Pastors/parish directors could lead one session with the youth or attend their retreat and/or sponsor sessions. It is a great time to invite them to fuller participate in parish life.
Catechist Appreciation
Catechetical leaders need to remember to check the schedule of the pastors/parish directors when planning a catechists’ appreciation get together. Pastors/parish directors like a party and this is a great time to let the catechist know how important they are to the parish community. Another time to thank catechist is on Catechetical Sunday. It is great to thank them with a small gift that they can use in their ministry.
In most parishes, it is important that the catechetical leaders and the pastors/parish directors plan the dates for these events in advance. This makes everyone’s calendaring for the year go much smoother.
Faith formation will not happen without strong catechetical leaders that are supported in their ministry by their pastors/parish directors. This reminds all of us not to take Catholic education for granted.
Parents, children and parishioners, this is a great time of the year to thank both your catechetical leaders and your pastors/parish directors for helping pass on the faith to all parishioners. When you are giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day, you might say an extra prayer for pastors/parish directors, catechetical leaders and catechist.
The Importance Boards
Dr. Joe Bound, diocesan director of education, offers some insight into the invaluable benefits that boards of education bring to lifelong Catholic learning.
Whether we are talking about a Catholic school system, a parish’s program of total Catholic education involving adult faith formation, religious education and parish school, or a stand alone parish religion education program, all of these forms of Catholic education should be supported by an education committee, commission, or board.
In the newly revised Handbook for Education Committees, Commissions or Boards for the Diocese of Green Bay it states in the foreword, “Catholic education is the source of knowledge of the Gospel message, revealed in Jesus Christ and communicated through the Church. This mission is fulfilled through educational programs designed to teach the message, to nurture spiritual life, to bring about full human development, to build a faith community and to foster a just society. The education committee, commission or board is integral to the mission of the parish and its educational mission. One key principle permeates this handbook. Every parish and school (both parish and system schools) should have an education committee, commission or board.”
These committees, commissions or boards of education (shortened to boards for this article) have six basic functions. The effectiveness of a board will depend on its competence in performing these functions. All of these functions are essential for effective board operations.
The primary function of the board is to ensure the Catholic identity of the parish’s or system’s educational programs and services. The board should work with the educational administrators to ensure that the parish or system educational programs operate in conformance with the dogmas, teachings/doctrines, and laws of the Catholic faith. It should be committed to upholding the teaching of faith and to integrating these core teachings and values into all facets of the learner’s life.
The second function of the board is to plan. To do this effectively the board will need to know the direction of the Church and the Diocese of Green Bay as well as the educational needs of the local community. From these directions and needs, the board can recommend priorities and set goals. From here they should develop a three year financial and strategic plan which set the course for the parish’s or system’s education programs and services.
Policy making is one of the most important functions of a board. A policy is a discretionary guide to action. The board makes the policy and the parish and/or school educational administrators are responsible to implement it. However, the board does not tell the educational administrators how to carry out the policy; the administrators have the professional expertise to make regulations as appropriate.
The next function of a board is the hiring of competent educational administrators to oversee educational programs and activities. In the parish setting the hiring process is done under the direction of the pastor/parish director. This requires advertising, interviewing, checking references and discerning. There should be a job description so the board and applicant know precisely the duties to be performed. It should be pointed out that in a parish educational program the administrators are hired by the pastor/parish director but in a system the chief administrator is hired by the board of trusts with the approval of the system’s board of directors. The other administrators are hired by the chief system administrator. Subsequently, the evaluation of the educational administrators is the responsibility of the pastor/parish director in a parish setting. In a system the board of trustees evaluates the chief administrator who in turn evaluates the other system administrators.
Financing and budgeting are the fifth function of the board. The budget is a decision‑making instrument. Decisions should be based on needs, priorities and goals as outlined in the strategic plan. Since education is only one of the parish or community missions, the finance council and pastoral council will have to decide the amount of its resources it can allocate to the educational mission of the parish or system schools it supports. The board of education should approve a recommended budget prepared with the educational administrators, before it is presented to the finance council or the board of directors who support a school system. The board should guide the budget’s passage through the parish or system governing network. Once the budget is approved, the board working with the finance council monitors its implementation and makes periodic reports to the finance council and other appropriate authorities.
The final function of the board creates confidence in the community regarding the educational programs and services provided by the parish or system. In order to create and sustain this confidence the board needs to recognize that the community has the right to know: (1) local educational goals, (2) programs used to meet those goals and (3) evaluation of the programs. Good public relations create confidence in the board, administration and educational programs. It also involves listening to the various publics involved. Directly related to this function, the board should be actively involved in developing and implementing marketing plans. Concerted year round efforts must be made in advertising, marketing, and public relations.
In short, the education committees, commissions, or boards in the Diocese of Green Bay are responsible for ensuring Catholic identity, developing and implementing financial and strategic plans, setting policy, participating in the hiring and evaluating of chief educational administrators, developing the budget needed to support the educational programs and services of the parish or system, and to advertise, market and promote the educational offerings of the parish or system. By diligently doing all of this work, the board ensures the fulfillment of the parish’s or system’s catechetical and educational mission and vision.
Whether we are talking about a Catholic school system, a parish’s program of total Catholic education involving adult faith formation, religious education and parish school, or a stand alone parish religion education program, all of these forms of Catholic education should be supported by an education committee, commission, or board.
In the newly revised Handbook for Education Committees, Commissions or Boards for the Diocese of Green Bay it states in the foreword, “Catholic education is the source of knowledge of the Gospel message, revealed in Jesus Christ and communicated through the Church. This mission is fulfilled through educational programs designed to teach the message, to nurture spiritual life, to bring about full human development, to build a faith community and to foster a just society. The education committee, commission or board is integral to the mission of the parish and its educational mission. One key principle permeates this handbook. Every parish and school (both parish and system schools) should have an education committee, commission or board.”
These committees, commissions or boards of education (shortened to boards for this article) have six basic functions. The effectiveness of a board will depend on its competence in performing these functions. All of these functions are essential for effective board operations.
The primary function of the board is to ensure the Catholic identity of the parish’s or system’s educational programs and services. The board should work with the educational administrators to ensure that the parish or system educational programs operate in conformance with the dogmas, teachings/doctrines, and laws of the Catholic faith. It should be committed to upholding the teaching of faith and to integrating these core teachings and values into all facets of the learner’s life.
The second function of the board is to plan. To do this effectively the board will need to know the direction of the Church and the Diocese of Green Bay as well as the educational needs of the local community. From these directions and needs, the board can recommend priorities and set goals. From here they should develop a three year financial and strategic plan which set the course for the parish’s or system’s education programs and services.
Policy making is one of the most important functions of a board. A policy is a discretionary guide to action. The board makes the policy and the parish and/or school educational administrators are responsible to implement it. However, the board does not tell the educational administrators how to carry out the policy; the administrators have the professional expertise to make regulations as appropriate.
The next function of a board is the hiring of competent educational administrators to oversee educational programs and activities. In the parish setting the hiring process is done under the direction of the pastor/parish director. This requires advertising, interviewing, checking references and discerning. There should be a job description so the board and applicant know precisely the duties to be performed. It should be pointed out that in a parish educational program the administrators are hired by the pastor/parish director but in a system the chief administrator is hired by the board of trusts with the approval of the system’s board of directors. The other administrators are hired by the chief system administrator. Subsequently, the evaluation of the educational administrators is the responsibility of the pastor/parish director in a parish setting. In a system the board of trustees evaluates the chief administrator who in turn evaluates the other system administrators.
Financing and budgeting are the fifth function of the board. The budget is a decision‑making instrument. Decisions should be based on needs, priorities and goals as outlined in the strategic plan. Since education is only one of the parish or community missions, the finance council and pastoral council will have to decide the amount of its resources it can allocate to the educational mission of the parish or system schools it supports. The board of education should approve a recommended budget prepared with the educational administrators, before it is presented to the finance council or the board of directors who support a school system. The board should guide the budget’s passage through the parish or system governing network. Once the budget is approved, the board working with the finance council monitors its implementation and makes periodic reports to the finance council and other appropriate authorities.
The final function of the board creates confidence in the community regarding the educational programs and services provided by the parish or system. In order to create and sustain this confidence the board needs to recognize that the community has the right to know: (1) local educational goals, (2) programs used to meet those goals and (3) evaluation of the programs. Good public relations create confidence in the board, administration and educational programs. It also involves listening to the various publics involved. Directly related to this function, the board should be actively involved in developing and implementing marketing plans. Concerted year round efforts must be made in advertising, marketing, and public relations.
In short, the education committees, commissions, or boards in the Diocese of Green Bay are responsible for ensuring Catholic identity, developing and implementing financial and strategic plans, setting policy, participating in the hiring and evaluating of chief educational administrators, developing the budget needed to support the educational programs and services of the parish or system, and to advertise, market and promote the educational offerings of the parish or system. By diligently doing all of this work, the board ensures the fulfillment of the parish’s or system’s catechetical and educational mission and vision.
Defining Our Terms: Catholic Identity in Our Catholic Schools
We hear the term "Catholic identity" often. Mark Salisbury, diocesan superintendent of schools, sheds some light on the term in the context of our mission as educators:
All of us have taken classes where our teacher made sure that we defined our terms. The thinking being that if we define our terms we can have an intelligent discussion about how that term is to be used given the subject matter we are engaged in. Certainly, we see in an election year it is extremely important that terms be well defined so that we can compare apples to apples on the candidates viewpoints.
In our Catholic schools one of the important terms to define is Catholic identity. Catholic school leaders across our diocese spent last year coming to a common definition of what Catholic identity means in our schools. Below, I’ll share some highlights from our definition of Catholic Identity in our Catholic Schools in The Diocese of Green Bay.
The first point is that our Catholic Identity is at the foundation of a Catholic school. It is our reason for existence. The Gospel of Christ and his very person are therefore to inspire and guide the Catholic school in its every dimension, its philosophy of education, curriculum, community life, the selection and ongoing formation of its teachers and staff, and its physical environment.
Also, our Catholic schools find their true justification in the mission of the Church; therefore our schools foundations are based on an educational philosophy in which faith, culture, and life are brought into harmony. And further, the schools governing body, policies and documents and its management practices reflect the Catholic mission and philosophy of the school. Our schools leadership teams, faculty and staff know, support and model the teachings of the Church.
During childhood and adolescence a student in our schools experiences personal relations with outstanding Catholic educators. What is taught has greater influence on the student’s formation when placed in the context of personal involvement on the part of the teacher and when there is coherence of the teacher’s attitudes and lifestyle in day-to-day behavior to what is being taught. Therefore, we expect our teachers to be true witnesses to Christ.
In our Catholic Schools intellectual development and growth as a Christian go forward hand-in-hand. As students move up from one class into the next we help our students become aware that a relationship exists between faith and human culture. The world of human culture and the world of religion are not like two parallel lines that never meet; points of contact are established within the human person. Therefore, in writing and delivering the curriculum in all disciplines, our teachers constantly search for contact points between faith and human culture.
Our schools actively promote faith to action service and social justice experiences as integral elements within the life of the school. We are confident our graduates will be prepared to enrich society with the leaven of the Gospel.
Because of their identity and ecclesial roots, our Catholic schools are Christian communities, that is, communities of faith. We work to nourish a living relationship with Christ and with the local Church. Therefore the school community is a faith community that nurtures the spiritual lives of their students, families, faculty and all that come in contact with the school and bonds them to the ecclesial community. A variety of opportunities are available for the entire school community to worship and pray together.
Catholic schools are welcoming, inclusive and safe for all who enter the facilities.
As you can see from the above definition of what Catholic identity means in our Catholic Schools, we are very proud of our principals, teachers, staff, parents, parishioners and pastors for sustaining schools where our Catholic Identity is a strong lived reality.
All of us have taken classes where our teacher made sure that we defined our terms. The thinking being that if we define our terms we can have an intelligent discussion about how that term is to be used given the subject matter we are engaged in. Certainly, we see in an election year it is extremely important that terms be well defined so that we can compare apples to apples on the candidates viewpoints.
In our Catholic schools one of the important terms to define is Catholic identity. Catholic school leaders across our diocese spent last year coming to a common definition of what Catholic identity means in our schools. Below, I’ll share some highlights from our definition of Catholic Identity in our Catholic Schools in The Diocese of Green Bay.
The first point is that our Catholic Identity is at the foundation of a Catholic school. It is our reason for existence. The Gospel of Christ and his very person are therefore to inspire and guide the Catholic school in its every dimension, its philosophy of education, curriculum, community life, the selection and ongoing formation of its teachers and staff, and its physical environment.
Also, our Catholic schools find their true justification in the mission of the Church; therefore our schools foundations are based on an educational philosophy in which faith, culture, and life are brought into harmony. And further, the schools governing body, policies and documents and its management practices reflect the Catholic mission and philosophy of the school. Our schools leadership teams, faculty and staff know, support and model the teachings of the Church.
During childhood and adolescence a student in our schools experiences personal relations with outstanding Catholic educators. What is taught has greater influence on the student’s formation when placed in the context of personal involvement on the part of the teacher and when there is coherence of the teacher’s attitudes and lifestyle in day-to-day behavior to what is being taught. Therefore, we expect our teachers to be true witnesses to Christ.
In our Catholic Schools intellectual development and growth as a Christian go forward hand-in-hand. As students move up from one class into the next we help our students become aware that a relationship exists between faith and human culture. The world of human culture and the world of religion are not like two parallel lines that never meet; points of contact are established within the human person. Therefore, in writing and delivering the curriculum in all disciplines, our teachers constantly search for contact points between faith and human culture.
Our schools actively promote faith to action service and social justice experiences as integral elements within the life of the school. We are confident our graduates will be prepared to enrich society with the leaven of the Gospel.
Because of their identity and ecclesial roots, our Catholic schools are Christian communities, that is, communities of faith. We work to nourish a living relationship with Christ and with the local Church. Therefore the school community is a faith community that nurtures the spiritual lives of their students, families, faculty and all that come in contact with the school and bonds them to the ecclesial community. A variety of opportunities are available for the entire school community to worship and pray together.
Catholic schools are welcoming, inclusive and safe for all who enter the facilities.
As you can see from the above definition of what Catholic identity means in our Catholic Schools, we are very proud of our principals, teachers, staff, parents, parishioners and pastors for sustaining schools where our Catholic Identity is a strong lived reality.
Friday, October 24, 2008
150th Anniversary of the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help
Do you know the story of Sr. Adele Joseph Brice? Have you ever visited the site of the Robinsonville, Wisconsin apparitions? Do you know story behind this site? Rosie Bartel, religious education director for the Diocese of Green Bay offers a closer look:
Adele Joseph Brice came to Green Bay peninsula from Belgium with her parents in 1855.Despite the loss of an eye as a young child and a very meager education, Adele was known for her charming personality, fervent piety, simple religious ways and her prayer life to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The stories about the apparitions of Adele have been passed down by the people in the area for the last 150 years. Many of you might have visited Robinsonville with your parents or as a family. I have very fond memories of my visited to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help as a child. It was always a day of attending Mass, praying the rosary, hearing the stories and having a picnic lunch on the grounds. It was a surprise to me that not every family made pilgrimages to the shrine. My love for the history of the shrine has encouraged me to share this story with the faithful of our diocese and especially the children. My hope is that this article will bring more interest in the shrine’s beautiful story. This new interest will lead to more pilgrimages to the shrine.
The following is a summary of the apparitions as told by Sister Pauline LaPlant. In the first apparition, Adele saw a lady in white standing between two trees. Adele was frighten and stood still. The vision slowly disappeared, leaving a white cloud after it.
In the second apparition, Adele was again on her way to Mass at Bay Settlement. She was accompanied by her sister, Isabel and a neighbor woman. When they came near the same trees, the same lady in white was at the place where Adele had seen her before. Later her confessor told Adele that if it were a heavenly messenger, she would see it again. He said that it would not harm her, but to ask in God’s name who it was and what it desired of her.
Then, on October 9, 1859 came the final apparition. As they approached the hallowed spot, Adele could see the beautiful lady, clothed in dazzling white, with a yellow sash around her waist. She had a crown of stars around her head. “In God’s name who are you and what do you want of me?” asked Adele.
“I am the Queen of Heaven (…) Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation (…) Teach them their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish you to do. Go and fear nothing. I will help you.”
The manifestation of Our Lady then lifted her hands, as though beseeching a blessing for those at her feet, and slowly vanished, leaving Adele overwhelmed and prostrate on the ground. When Adele got up, she immediately went about fulfilling this mission. She devoted herself to this mission until her death in 1896.
After the apparition, Adele began catechizing the children. Teaching from house to house, up and down the Green Bay Peninsula, she would travel as much as 50 miles on foot. Weather conditions, fatigue, lack of education, dangers of the forest and ridicule did not deter Adele’s determination to fulfill her duty to Blessed Mother Mary’s request.
Eventually, she was joined by several young women from the area. St. Mary’s Boarding Academy was founded near the site of the apparitions. With the assistance of the Belgian community, Sister Adele built a school, chapel and convent on land donated in the town of Robinsonville. Today the town is called New Franklin.
Over the years, while Sister Adele and her religious community suffered trials, persecutions and set-backs, they were the means through which miraculous events and healings were manifested. One of the most spectacular of these events occurred in 1871, when the shrine’s grounds and buildings were virtually untouched by the merciless fury and devastation of the Great Peshtigo Fire. Many of the families from the area came to the church and were kept safe there from the fire.
The school was closed in 1928, but since 1861, thousands of pilgrimages have been made to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help to honor the Mother of God and implore her help. Since 1871, on August 15th, the feast of the Assumption, a large crowd gathers to celebrant the day with rosary processions and an outdoor Mass.
Promulgation of the story of Sister Adele and the Robinsonville apparitions has continued through the years. It has received the public support and permission of the local bishops of the Diocese of Green Bay, though no formal declaration concerning the apparitions has been made by the Catholic Church. Since the building of the first chapel, the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help has been accepted as a special place for prayer and worship in the Diocese of Green Bay. It continues to receive Church support by the local bishop, a special visit of the Delegate to North America and the thousands of faithful who come to the shrine for Mass and prayer.
The 150 anniversary celebration year began on October 8, 2008. If you have never made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, plan to make one this year.
Adele Joseph Brice came to Green Bay peninsula from Belgium with her parents in 1855.Despite the loss of an eye as a young child and a very meager education, Adele was known for her charming personality, fervent piety, simple religious ways and her prayer life to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The stories about the apparitions of Adele have been passed down by the people in the area for the last 150 years. Many of you might have visited Robinsonville with your parents or as a family. I have very fond memories of my visited to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help as a child. It was always a day of attending Mass, praying the rosary, hearing the stories and having a picnic lunch on the grounds. It was a surprise to me that not every family made pilgrimages to the shrine. My love for the history of the shrine has encouraged me to share this story with the faithful of our diocese and especially the children. My hope is that this article will bring more interest in the shrine’s beautiful story. This new interest will lead to more pilgrimages to the shrine.
The following is a summary of the apparitions as told by Sister Pauline LaPlant. In the first apparition, Adele saw a lady in white standing between two trees. Adele was frighten and stood still. The vision slowly disappeared, leaving a white cloud after it.
In the second apparition, Adele was again on her way to Mass at Bay Settlement. She was accompanied by her sister, Isabel and a neighbor woman. When they came near the same trees, the same lady in white was at the place where Adele had seen her before. Later her confessor told Adele that if it were a heavenly messenger, she would see it again. He said that it would not harm her, but to ask in God’s name who it was and what it desired of her.
Then, on October 9, 1859 came the final apparition. As they approached the hallowed spot, Adele could see the beautiful lady, clothed in dazzling white, with a yellow sash around her waist. She had a crown of stars around her head. “In God’s name who are you and what do you want of me?” asked Adele.
“I am the Queen of Heaven (…) Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation (…) Teach them their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish you to do. Go and fear nothing. I will help you.”
The manifestation of Our Lady then lifted her hands, as though beseeching a blessing for those at her feet, and slowly vanished, leaving Adele overwhelmed and prostrate on the ground. When Adele got up, she immediately went about fulfilling this mission. She devoted herself to this mission until her death in 1896.
After the apparition, Adele began catechizing the children. Teaching from house to house, up and down the Green Bay Peninsula, she would travel as much as 50 miles on foot. Weather conditions, fatigue, lack of education, dangers of the forest and ridicule did not deter Adele’s determination to fulfill her duty to Blessed Mother Mary’s request.
Eventually, she was joined by several young women from the area. St. Mary’s Boarding Academy was founded near the site of the apparitions. With the assistance of the Belgian community, Sister Adele built a school, chapel and convent on land donated in the town of Robinsonville. Today the town is called New Franklin.
Over the years, while Sister Adele and her religious community suffered trials, persecutions and set-backs, they were the means through which miraculous events and healings were manifested. One of the most spectacular of these events occurred in 1871, when the shrine’s grounds and buildings were virtually untouched by the merciless fury and devastation of the Great Peshtigo Fire. Many of the families from the area came to the church and were kept safe there from the fire.
The school was closed in 1928, but since 1861, thousands of pilgrimages have been made to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help to honor the Mother of God and implore her help. Since 1871, on August 15th, the feast of the Assumption, a large crowd gathers to celebrant the day with rosary processions and an outdoor Mass.
Promulgation of the story of Sister Adele and the Robinsonville apparitions has continued through the years. It has received the public support and permission of the local bishops of the Diocese of Green Bay, though no formal declaration concerning the apparitions has been made by the Catholic Church. Since the building of the first chapel, the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help has been accepted as a special place for prayer and worship in the Diocese of Green Bay. It continues to receive Church support by the local bishop, a special visit of the Delegate to North America and the thousands of faithful who come to the shrine for Mass and prayer.
The 150 anniversary celebration year began on October 8, 2008. If you have never made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, plan to make one this year.
Dr. Joe Bound -- The Sum of the Parts
There’s a common phrase, "The whole is greater than the sum of the parts." The reality of that concept is evident in the value of the wide range of education and experience that Dr. Joe Bound brings to his mission as director of education for Diocese of Green Bay.
In his position at the Diocese, Joe is responsible for the overall direction of diocesan efforts in the three forms of Catholic lifelong learning: Catholic schools, religious education programs, and ongoing adult faith formation. He believes that his greatest challenges are related to the implementation of the strategic plans for each area. He is committed to working closely with parishes, staffs, and the diocesan board of education to increase enrollment in all areas, create strong curricula, promote professional staff development, and ensure that all programs are conducted as cost-effectively as possible.
Joe is a native of the Washington State, born in Seattle and raised in a rural area near Snohomish. He attended Catholic elementary school and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, an archdiocesan high school in Seattle. After graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. degree in business administration, over a 12-year span he completed the California teacher certification program at University of the Pacific and earned an M.B.A. degree from California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock, California. In 1994, he was awarded a Ph.D. in educational administration from Purdue University.
At each step in his varied work experience, Joe developed skills that prepared him well for the educational, spiritual, and business sides of diocesan education operations. He’s been an industrial salesperson in Washington, Oregon, and California, a credit and loan officer for financial institutions in California; and business manager for Kappa Delta Pi, the Indiana-based international honor society in education. His career in Catholic education spans over 20 years, first as a teacher at St. John the Evangelist School in Carmichael, California and later as a teacher and business manager at St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, California. He also held the position of assistant superintendent of schools for over eight years for the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut and was simultaneously the middle and high school principal at St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol, Connecticut for one year.
Over the years, he has been an adjunct faculty member at Humphreys College in Stockton, California; Indiana Business College, Lafayette, Indiana; Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana; Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut; and Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, Connecticut. He has taught courses in business management, economics, educational administration, international business, marketing, and strategic planning.
In 2004 he moved to Wisconsin as president of the ACES Xavier Educational System in Appleton where he was instrumental in developing comprehensive strategic and business plans. Two years later, Bishop David Zubik appointed Joe as director of education for the Diocese of Green Bay with responsibility for all adult faith formation, parish religious education, and Catholic schools in the Diocese.
Dr. Bound is Byzantine Catholic, has been married to his wife Linda for 30 years, and has two grown sons: Nicholas (25) who lives in Londonderry, New Hampshire with his wife Cara, and Andrew (22) who lives in Oxford, Ohio. Joe and his wife are members of St. Pius X Parish in Appleton and St. George Melkite-Greek Catholic Parish in Milwaukee. Outside of the office, his interests include biking, camping, cross-country and downhill skiing, hiking, model railroading, reading biographies and mysteries, studying French, and watching Green Bay Packers games.
His favorite Scripture verse is John 6:51: I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
In his position at the Diocese, Joe is responsible for the overall direction of diocesan efforts in the three forms of Catholic lifelong learning: Catholic schools, religious education programs, and ongoing adult faith formation. He believes that his greatest challenges are related to the implementation of the strategic plans for each area. He is committed to working closely with parishes, staffs, and the diocesan board of education to increase enrollment in all areas, create strong curricula, promote professional staff development, and ensure that all programs are conducted as cost-effectively as possible.
Joe is a native of the Washington State, born in Seattle and raised in a rural area near Snohomish. He attended Catholic elementary school and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, an archdiocesan high school in Seattle. After graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. degree in business administration, over a 12-year span he completed the California teacher certification program at University of the Pacific and earned an M.B.A. degree from California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock, California. In 1994, he was awarded a Ph.D. in educational administration from Purdue University.
At each step in his varied work experience, Joe developed skills that prepared him well for the educational, spiritual, and business sides of diocesan education operations. He’s been an industrial salesperson in Washington, Oregon, and California, a credit and loan officer for financial institutions in California; and business manager for Kappa Delta Pi, the Indiana-based international honor society in education. His career in Catholic education spans over 20 years, first as a teacher at St. John the Evangelist School in Carmichael, California and later as a teacher and business manager at St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, California. He also held the position of assistant superintendent of schools for over eight years for the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut and was simultaneously the middle and high school principal at St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol, Connecticut for one year.
Over the years, he has been an adjunct faculty member at Humphreys College in Stockton, California; Indiana Business College, Lafayette, Indiana; Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana; Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut; and Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, Connecticut. He has taught courses in business management, economics, educational administration, international business, marketing, and strategic planning.
In 2004 he moved to Wisconsin as president of the ACES Xavier Educational System in Appleton where he was instrumental in developing comprehensive strategic and business plans. Two years later, Bishop David Zubik appointed Joe as director of education for the Diocese of Green Bay with responsibility for all adult faith formation, parish religious education, and Catholic schools in the Diocese.
Dr. Bound is Byzantine Catholic, has been married to his wife Linda for 30 years, and has two grown sons: Nicholas (25) who lives in Londonderry, New Hampshire with his wife Cara, and Andrew (22) who lives in Oxford, Ohio. Joe and his wife are members of St. Pius X Parish in Appleton and St. George Melkite-Greek Catholic Parish in Milwaukee. Outside of the office, his interests include biking, camping, cross-country and downhill skiing, hiking, model railroading, reading biographies and mysteries, studying French, and watching Green Bay Packers games.
His favorite Scripture verse is John 6:51: I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
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