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Dear OLG Family,
"My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together."
- Desmond Tutu
This coming Tuesday is Election Day. It is a time when all registered voters across our nation are called upon to perform our civic duty and vote as informed, educated voters. As Catholics, we are asked to vote with our conscience. In our society, it is easy to make politics polarizing and isolating. As a teacher during the last two elections, what I appreciated most was the students’ ability to focus on the importance of a peaceful election, the understanding of current events from various lenses, the constructs of our political system, and why our voices matter. My job was to share the information and teach about our civic duty, civil discourse, and what it means to be an active member of a global community, who aligns to the Catholic Social Teaching (CST). At the end of the day, what came through most, and what I believe is most important, is that we remember the CST of Life and Dignity of the Human Person. Every single person in our world and in our OLG community has value. We are fortunate to live in a country where we are also able to have a voice, our own opinions, and the ability to make decisions for ourselves, that impact the world around us. Desmond Tutu was once credited as saying, "My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together,” and I find this to be so very true, especially around election season. We are all one humanity, we are all one community. We are one nation. What binds us should be greater than what divides us.
In the days ahead, I invite you to talk to your children about what it means to respect our neighbors, classmates, fellow parents, fellow school families, parishioners, etc. who may have different viewpoints. It is our call as a community to be a place where all are welcome, not simply those who conform to our personal ideologies. At OLG, we are better together. We are each other’s humanity.
As a country and community, we pray for a peaceful election in the days ahead, and in the days that follow. Together, as people of faith, Pope Francis calls us to seek ways to make our world more just, more peaceful, more welcoming to all. The most successful civilizations in the world, and in our diverse global history, were founded and the manifold ideals, beliefs and gifts of many. They were sustained on mutual respect, care, welcomeness and appreciation that every single one of us brings something different to the table. So, let us come to the feast and join together as one. This is our call as active members of the global community today, and always. Jesus welcomed all His neighbors, and loved them each as God made them. We are called to do the same.
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