Greetings!

It was energizing to be with so many of you last week in Seabeck for our annual Christ in the Classroom retreat. I hope you came away refreshed and with new insights into the Beatitudes.

While feeling affirmed in my love of sailing, I also left with a new appreciation for understanding Beatitude as a destination unto itself as a state to be sought and desired. I share once more my gratitude to Fr. Dominic Briese, for facilitating our retreat; to David Burroughs, Marianne McGah, and Kim Dawson, for their efforts in preparing and sharing meaningful reflections to bring to life the eight Beatitudes; and to Connor Geraghty, for his efforts leading the retreat effort and creating the space and opportunity for us all to gather in prayer and fellowship.

As you all continue to unpack and process the retreat in anticipation of sharing with your faculty and staff in the coming weeks, I will be keeping you in prayer, that you feel the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in allowing you to share it meaningfully with those you lead and serve.

*  *  *  *  *

We have opened our registration for our annual meeting of school leaders and pastoral leadership. Our meeting this year will be held at St. Thomas in Tukwila, on Thursday, October 29. We will begin our day with Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Etienne.

Please personally extend this invitation to your pastor. In addition to the leadership pairing of the pastor and principal, if you would find it helpful, you may choose to extend the invitation to another member of the parish leadership, such as a parochial vicar, a DOO or PAA, or your School Commission Chair.

Please take a moment to register here.

*  *  *  *  *

We are in the midst of our annual Fall Data Collection. We are asking all schools to have this completed by next week, on Wednesday, October 7.

If you have questions or problems related to OCS data collection, please contact Synthiea Kaldi (synthiea.kaldi@seattlearch.org). We appreciate your work on this essential annual task.

With gratitude, 

NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent

Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle