Dear Parishioners:

This week is Catholic Schools Week across America. Catholic schools enrolled more than 5 million students in the mid-1960s, but today, just 1.6 million. Many things have contributed to this decline, including decaying family life, demographic decline, economic stress, and massive secularization. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a modest increase in enrollment in Catholic Schools across the country. This was largely because Catholic Schools did an excellent job with online learning. They also reopened to students much quicker than many public schools.

We cannot sit back and rest on our laurels. Rather, Catholic schools must continue to strive for excellence in forming the whole person. The central mission of Catholic Education is to teach our Faith. Now, more than ever, this world needs children who embrace the truths of our Church, who understand that God created us male and female, who believe in the sanctity of life, who see the human dignity of each of God's children, and who believe in objective truth.

There will be challenges whenever we stick to our mission of teaching the Catholic Faith. Children generally believe what their parents teach them about religion. Thus, they have questions, as they should. The Catholic Church, which has survived two millennia, is well-prepared to answer them. Therefore, those to whom students pose their questions must also be properly catechized and committed to their Catholic Faith. Catholic Education and Catholic Educators must ensure a faithful environment where parents can be assured that their child's Catholic Faith is retained, deepened, and not destroyed. In short, we must keep the Catholic in our Catholic schools.

And so, as we celebrate this Catholic Schools Week to highlight the importance of Catholic Education, We can be proud of our parish school that strives to fulfill its mission. Our students are properly formed in our classrooms with rigorous academics, creative arts and music, competitive athletics, discipline, virtuous living, and a solid foundation in the teachings of the Catholic Faith. OLM School offers an education where the rich teachings of Christ and his Church are taught, not the values of popular and politically correct culture. Our students study in a Catholic environment where the Faith is taught joyfully and authentically. The Faith isn't only taught but actively lived out with Mass, Confessions, prayer, devotions, and charitable good works.

Fr. Healey and OLM Students on the First Day of School 2023-2024

The great success of our school is due to the outstanding Principal and Faculty at OLM School. They are supported by committed parents who support the mission and are willing to sacrifice for the school's common good. And, of course, the centerpiece of our excellent school is our student body. Our students strive every day to learn and love as Catholic disciples. Our Lady of Mercy School is truly a Catholic School in the best sense. It is a school where we strive daily to be saints and scholars.

So join us as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week and OLM School! I invite you to visit the school this Sunday at the Open House from 10:00 am until Noon. See the great things happening and meet our wonderful students, parents, and faculty members. Join us on Friday at 9:00 am as we celebrate our Annual Catholic Schools Week Mass on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It commemorates our Lord’s presentation in the Temple as a young child.

It is sometimes called Candlemas Day since the blessing and procession of candles are included in the liturgy. The blessing of candles is closely related to the Gospel, introducing Jesus as the "Light of the people." The candles are blessed with these words: "O God, source and origin of all light, we humbly ask that, in answer to your people's prayers, you may be pleased to sanctify with your blessing + these candles, which we are eager to carry in praise of your name, so that, treading the path of virtue, we may reach that light which never fails."

This blessing is fitting for Catholic Schools Week as we celebrate our faculty and students praising the Lord, treading the path of virtue, and seeking the light of Christ! Happy Catholic Schools Week! Celebrate OLM School! Be well. Do good. God Bless!

Keep the Catholic in Catholic Schools!