|
Good morning, Kristin,
As I continue to pray about the purpose of our Catholic schools, I return to the kind of students we are called to form. We strive for academic excellence, leadership, and service, but at the heart of our mission is something deeper: forming students who are merciful.
This past Sunday’s readings remind us that mercy is not just an ideal—it is a way of life. David had the power to strike down Saul, yet he chose restraint. The psalmist proclaims God’s kindness and compassion, not as a distant attribute, but as a model for us to follow. Jesus takes it even further, calling us to love our enemies, to forgive without condition, and to give without expecting anything in return. These are difficult commands, yet they are the very shape of discipleship.
Paul’s words to the Corinthians offer a powerful lens for our work in Catholic education: Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God—this is not something we earn, nor is it diminished by our failures. But in forming students who see that image in themselves and in others, who respond to the world with mercy, generosity, and love, we help them live more fully into the people God created them to be.
If our schools are to be truly Catholic, then our students must learn what it means to reflect the mercy of God in a world that often values power over compassion. This is the real measure of our work—helping students not only grow in knowledge but become living witnesses to the Gospel.
With gratitude,
NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent
Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle
| 
