Jane Rall is a member of the CEF Board of Directors.
What a journey my husband and I have been on these last 17 years as our children have experienced a Catholic education! When our oldest started kindergarten, we were excited to send him into a nurturing environment that would allow him to learn about his faith and grow closer to Christ along with mastering the usual subjects in school. Our family continued to grow and so did our conviction in choosing Catholic education for each of our four children.
The early years of their Catholic school days were spent learning simple prayers along with stories about Jesus and the Saints. Our parish priest often reminded the students at all school Mass that this was the most important classroom. As our home filled with Saint reports, ceramic crosses and prayer journals, our hearts filled with gratitude for the faith-filled community we had found in our school. This grew as our children continued their education into middle school and high school. While their elementary teachers provided the gentle guidance and examples of how Jesus would treat others, their high school teachers have become mentors and challenged them in their faith walks at a much deeper level. During retreats, service and social justice activities, as well as during Mass and prayer throughout their school days, our children have been encouraged to grow in their love of Christ.
My husband and I are so grateful we have been able to provide a Catholic education for our children and feel blessed by the priests, principals, and teachers that have touched their lives. Next week, we will celebrate Catholic Schools Week with a variety of activities at our parish school. We will celebrate along with the 14,000+ students in our archdiocese. This includes more than 1,400 students who receive scholarships through the Catholic Education Foundation. These scholarships help families who desire a Catholic education but need some assistance to make it a reality! This Catholic Schools Week, take a moment to think about what Catholic education has meant to your family and consider supporting CEF scholarships for other families who seek this same opportunity!
