Celebrating Catholic Schools Week

A week that began with a dinner honoring distinguished graduates from all corners of the Diocese of Baton Rouge was capped off by a jazz band entertaining employees at the Catholic Life Center.

Catholic Schools Week, which was celebrated Jan. 29 – Feb. 4, offered a number of activities that were not only enjoyable for the students but also educational with an emphasis on Catholic education.

The annual Distinguished Graduates Awards Dinner kicked off the week at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge on Jan. 30.

Two days later Bishop Michael G. Duca celebrated the Catholic Schools Week Mass at St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge and the week closed with a band from St. Elizabeth School in Paincourtville and a lively jazz band from St. Michael the Archangel Diocesan Regional High School in Baton Rouge  performing at the Chancery.

Parochially, schools celebrated in their own unique ways, such as wearing Hawaiian shirts to class for the day. The theme of the week was “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”

“What is truth? God is truth,” said Dena Rispone Balart during the keynote address at the dinner. “Growing up in Catholic Schools taught me that.”

“This is what we want for our schools to encourage students to actively seek the kingdom of God and live their lives accordingly,” added Balart, who was honored as the St. Michael Distinguished Graduate.

She recalled attending three different Catholic schools growing up, including Redemptorist St. Gerard, where her parents attended. She said her father was appreciative of the sacrifices his parents made to send him to Catholic school and told Balart that although his parents were not able to leave him a monetary inheritance they left him the best inheritance of all – their Catholic faith. Balart said her parents passed that on to her and her siblings.

“All of the schools I attended had the common thread of beginning and ending the day with a prayer,” she said. “What a gift to be able to have Jesus and his teachings as part of the day.”

A homemaker and a volunteer at St. Gerard School, Balart recalled a story of when she was struggling with whether she was making an impact on her students, a third-grader asked her if she was Catholic. When she responded yes the young person said he was going to be Catholic because his grandmother was bringing him to classes.

During the day of the dinner, Balart said she saw the young boy who said he was “going to be Catholic at Easter.”

“God reminded me through this little boy what is important,” she said.

Balart said when she recently celebrated her birthday a friend used three words to describe her: faith-filled, devoted and determined. She used those words not only to describe her own faith but also to inspire others.

“When Christ is in our lives, we become faith-filled,” she said.

Balart quoted St. Matthew Gospel’s passage “for where your treasure is there your heart will be.”

“Who or what are you devoted to?” she said.

Balart said being determined is doing the will of God and living out the Catholic faith even when it’s difficult.

“Faith in action, determined to live your faith even when it’s not easy,” she said.

“We are grateful for your message and your inspiring and continued involvement with Catholic education,” Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Pattie Davis said following Balart’s talk. “We appreciate all that you do and continue to do for us.”

Vicar General Father Tom Ranzino, representing Bishop Michael G. Duca, said those honored during the dinner represent “our biggest hope for the students we shepherd.”

“Our lives are a series of small and not so small dyings and risings,” Father Ranzino said. “In union with the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ we realize there is a redemptive power in suffering, a redemptive power in the cross, a redemptive power in the hope of the  resurrection.”

He said the answer to all of one’s successes and failures is how to hold on, how to let go.

“If there is anything our Catholic schools can help our students see and experience, it is to have them access this truth, which is the secret of life,” Father Ranzino said. “That is my wish for all of you tonight.”

Separately, Bishop Duca addressed students and adults during the Catholic Schools Week Mass.

The bishop encouraged the students to be lifelong learners, not only when it comes to academics and what career to pursue but also to God’s call of faith. That way, he said, they will be the light of Christ to the world, not just to “see for ourselves but to share it with others.”

“We learn, so we can become what we are meant to be,” said Bishop Duca.

Likewise, he thanked educators for answering the call to Catholic education and becoming role models that may inspire the students to be involved in Catholic education beyond their years in the classroom setting.

“I want to thank you for your hard work and skills that you use as you bless the students,” said Bishop Duca.

Father Michael Alello, pastor at St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge, was honored as Distinguished Catholic School Clergy. Erin Candilora was honored as the Distinguished Catholic School Administrator and Joshua Zeringue, a teacher at St. Michael, was honored as Distinguished Catholic School Educator.