At a Crossroads

1
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

2
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.

3
A Faith Perspective

• 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?

4
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

5
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

6

• 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 42-3

7
Growing Together in Faith

• Special Events
• Masses and Liturgies
• N.E.T. Retreat
• Youth Group
• Parish Community
• High School
• Connections are already being made

8
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 1721
• Our schools have been working together in spirit
  and faith for many years why not, then,
  together in one building?

9
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

10
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

11

• 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 413,15

12

• We are called to act justly, love tenderly and
  walk humbly with our God.
• Micah 68
• 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

13
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.

14

• 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.

15

• 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.

16

• As the journey brought us here,
• so here we begin it anew,
• in company together.
• Amen