|
Greetings!
This past June, to mark the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of this country, the bishops of the United States consecrated the nation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In writing his pastoral letter on the Sacred Heart of Jesus to mark this consecration, Archbishop Etienne has invited each of us to rediscover the devotion to the Sacred Heart because “[i]n a time marked by division, weariness and a loss of confidence in love itself, the Sacred Heart of Jesus remains what it has always been: the revelation of who God is and who we are called to become.”
As we head toward the first Friday in September and of the new school year, I wanted to remind us of three practical ways we can live this devotion and share it with our families. First, we are encouraged to enthrone an image of the Sacred Heart in our homes as “a visible reminder that Christ is the center of family life and the source of mercy, forgiveness and peace.”
We also encouraged to pray daily the Morning Offering. Finally, we are urged “to reclaim the First Friday devotion, rooted in participation at Mass and reception of holy Communion in a spirit of reparation and love.” Where participation in the Mass is not possible, we can look for other opportunities for communal prayer, such as the Rosary to mark these First Fridays.
To support the catechesis of the Sacred Heart, we have prepared a curriculum supplement for our K-8 classrooms, through the wonderful guidance and vision of two of our teachers – Emily Kirwan from Sacred Heart School and JC Santos from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School. I am deeply appreciative for their efforts in making this resource a reality. It is my hope that each of our religion classes will dedicate time over the course of the year to exploring this devotion with their students as a complement to the standard curriculum. You can find more information on this curriculum below in our Mission and Catholic Identity section.
* * * * *
SEEKING: Owl Meeting Camera
Our OCS team is seeking a relic from a bygone era. If you have an extra Owl Meeting Camera that you are no longer using and are willing to donate it to OCS, please email Ellie Bailey (eleanor.bailey@seattlearch.org) to coordinate.
* * * * *
GRATITUDE: Saying Goodbye to Kristin Moore
Today marks Kristin Moore’s final day in the Office for Catholic Schools as our Director of Marketing and Enrollment. In her seven years with OCS, Kristin has left her mark on our office and on the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese during a season of growth.
I’ve always thought that one of Kristin's superpowers is bringing people together and connecting ideas, so I am excited for what comes next as she prepares to launch Growth Studio. We will be sure to provide more details in the weeks ahead as to how you can activate your school’s membership to Growth Studio in this launch year.
Thank you, Kristin!
With gratitude,
NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent
Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle
| 
