SAGINAW — Several Catholic schools across the Diocese of Saginaw welcomed back students on Monday, August 31. Those include: Auburn Area Catholic School in Auburn; All Saints Central Elementary and All Saints Central Middle & High School in Bay City; Sacred Heart Academy in Mt. Pleasant; St. Michael School in Pinconning and Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary and Nouvel Catholic Central High School in Saginaw.
In preparation for students to return to the classroom this week and next, approximately 300 Catholic school faculty and staff gathered at the diocesan Center for Ministry last week for a day of enrichment led by Dominican Sister John Mary Fleming, executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington, D.C. The day was organized by Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Saginaw, Mary Ann Deschaine.
During her address to Catholic school leaders, teachers and staff members, Sister Fleming made clear, "By virtue of your baptism, you are what the Holy Father calls 'missionary disciples.'"
Sister Fleming went on to say that Catholic school teachers have the privilege and responsibility of witnessing the Good News of Jesus Christ to their students. Calling the teachers "agents for evangelization," she urged those gathered to avoid compartmentalizing religion into one class during the day. Instead, she challenged them to integrate the teachings of the Faith throughout the entire day, in a way that is truly and fully Catholic.
"Integration, in the aspect of developing students' faith life and helping them understand and keep their eye on the final goal— which is Heaven— and integration in the development as a human person— human flourishing."
Sister Fleming said that in an age when it is no longer politically correct to talk about faith outside the four walls of a Church, Catholic school teachers are free to speak about God and not forced to pretend He does not exist. She cited the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Christian Education, "Gravissimum educationis," which states that a true education aims at the formation of the human person in the pursuit of the ultimate end and of the good of the societies of which he/she is a member.
Following her address, the group of Catholic school faculty and staff traveled to the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw for the celebration of Mass with priests from Bay City, Midland and Saginaw.
"This was the perfect way to begin our new school year," Mary Ann Deschaine said. "Sister John Mary challenged us to integrate the teachings of the Catholic Faith throughout the day. She also reminded us that the best way we, as educators, make Jesus Christ present to our students is by the way we model the Faith in our own lives."
The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is home to 13 Catholic schools including: St. Mary School in Alma; Auburn Area Catholic School in Auburn; All Saints Central Elementary and All Saints Central Middle & High School in Bay City; St. Joseph the Worker School in Beal City; Our Lady of Lake Huron School in Harbor Beach; Blessed Sacrament School and St. Brigid of Kildare School in Midland; Sacred Heart Academy in Mt. Pleasant; St. Michael School in Pinconning; St. Elizabeth Area Catholic School in Reese; and Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary and Nouvel Catholic Central High School in Saginaw. School leaders, teachers and staff are committed to excellence in faith formation, academics, athletics, the arts and community service. The legacy of Catholic school education in Saginaw began in 1868.