Blessings of a Catholic School

"...whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant."

Those Gospel words were proclaimed at a Mass Wednesday for the 100th anniversary of St. Columbkille Catholic School. And they couldn't be more fitting for the occasion.

Archbishop George J. Lucas, in his homily, said service is what has set St. Columbkille apart.

"St. Columbkille School has a great reputation," he said. "And it's not by accident. It's because ... people are trying really hard to not just think of themselves, but to think of others."

Service, Archbishop Lucas said, is one of the greatest blessings of a going to a Catholic school -- and our source of true freedom. He said that as he grew older he grew to appreciate his own Catholic education, particularly because his school taught him to serve. "I learned how to be free to live for somebody else besides myself."

We "become our best selves," he said, and experience that freedom when we use our gifts from God to help others.

Father Vogel, in his homily at the 5:30 p.m. Mass later that day, shared the archbishop's message, again tying it to the Gospel reading. In the passage, the mother of the apostles James and John asked Jesus for a privileged place for her sons in Christ's Kingdom, one sitting at His left and the other at His right. Our Lord then summoned all the apostles, who had become indignant at the two brothers, to tell them what it takes to have a privileged place in His Kingdom.

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many."

Let's pray for St. Columbkille School, joining in the archbishop's prayer of blessing over the congregation at the all-school Mass:

"Purify Your faithful in body, mind and spirit, O Lord we pray, so that growing as disciples of Christ they may seek to serve rather than to be served. Through Christ our Lord."

Amen.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.