Committed to Catholic Education in NJ?

I live along the Bayshore of NJ. It is a beautiful place to live with wonderful family activities. There is a strong Catholic school tradition here. In recent times the economy has made it increasingly difficult to send children to Catholic Schools. I as well as many others make hard decisions and budget to allow our children the gift of a Catholic School Education. However enrollment has dropped. 3 schools in the area have less than 200 children in their school. The Diocese of Trenton and Bishop Smith were left to make a decision on the viability of the schools. The Diocese spent a considerable amount of money on a consulting firm from Wisconsin to determine whether the schools would be able to survive. In my mind I wonder why the money was not spent to advertise the schools and the benefits of what they have provided over the years. Wouldn't the money have been better spent with a strong PR firm?

I now am forced to wonder if the Bishop ever was truly committed to keep Catholic Education strong here in the Bayshore. He has closed 3 schools displacing over 400 children. The other schools in the area are either too far away or at capacity leaving parents with no Catholic School option. By combining the 3 schools enrollment would be robust but that was not considered an option. I wonder why? One of the schools increased enrollment this year to 216 and was able to raise an additional $100,000 in donations. That was accomplished in spite of the school receiving word that the diocese would be closing it. I can only imagine how much could be accomplished with any support at all from Trenton. St Joseph in Keyport NJ had offered to run the school independently of the diocese. Bishop Smith dismissed this option as he felt it would provide too much competition to Diocesan schools. It is puzzling how the school is not viable at first but then is too much of a threat to the other schools.

I teach my children to respect the hierarchy of the Church. However it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so. Not only do we think this decision is a poor decision. We have no serious explanation from the Bishop as to why it is being made. It seems to many that there are ulterior motives to closing the schools I am left with nothing to say to dispute their assumptions. I want to believe that the Diocese believes as much as I do that the children are the future and life blood of the Church. It's actions do not provide any support for that belief. I wonder whether the Bishop is indeed committed to Catholic Education. He has not shown it during his tenure. Many wonder whether he is more interested in the valuable Bayshore property than in enriching young minds and souls.

I would encourage Bishop Smith to address this troubled Catholic community and stop ignoring the outrage that is becoming a preoccupation in a number of the parishes of the Bayshore.

The Pope, Technology, and Social Media

I saw the news on the Catholic News Service today that the Pope is embracing technology like never before. The Vatican has started a you tube channel and Pope Benedict is encouraging the faithful to share their faith via blogs, facebook, and other social media sites. He also addresses the dangers inherent in these new technologies. People are looking now more than ever to connect with people via the internet. The connections that some will find will be destructive. However some will be reaffirming, supportive and uifting. How great is the opportunity to connect with others and share the joy and hope we can find in the Gospel and by growing in our relationship with our Lord. We as those who have embraced Social Technologies have a unique opportunity to share the faith. We also have an opportunity to connect with others in order to form relationships that spread joy and goodness, inspire and strengthen our resolve to follow Our Lord.

Here is a link to the article from Catholic News Service http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0900327.htm

Thank You for the Reassurance

I do not regularly go to the Latin Mass available at my parish. I know we are blessed and lucky to have this beautiful mass regularly available to us. Most Sundays we attend the English version in our parish. It was after a Latin service we met a traditional Catholic family that gave us inspiration.

Living as a Catholic in a secular world can be difficult, we tend to have little support from our friends and family who are either cafeteria style cradle Catholics, non practicing or protestant. People look at our family with 4 children and wonder if we are completely crazy. The constant comments from people we care about, like "When are you going to get snipped?" can be very discouraging and allows us to doubt the path we have chosen. The task of living in full accordance with the Church's teaching on being to open to life in marriage would be impossible without prayer and God's grace. I often ask for strength and it was after attending the Latin Mass during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception that I received encouragement that gave me added strength.

My wife and I were getting the kids in the car and we were delayed by another family getting into their vehicle. We had seen this family as well as other large families at mass worshiping together. The father of the family apologized for delaying our entry into our vehicle. I told him not to worry about it. I know how it is to load up a large family. This sparked a brief conversation. He has 5 children. We chatted about what a blessing large families are and how generations past had it right. It seems that our Lord gives us the messages that we need when we need them if we ask for his grace, the prudence to know and do his will and to open our hearts to the Spirit.

How beautiful was it that we received this encouragement during a feast day for Our Lady, who never questioned God's plan for her. We are reminded that in marriage we have no better example than Mary and St. Joseph her most chaste spouse.

God Bless

The Trials of Duke Henri

I saw this story and it seems like something out of the Reformation period in Europe. Much to my surprise there is still a monarch in Europe that is more than a figure head. The Duke of Luxembourg has the power to sign laws and he has veto power over the parliament. Later this week, however this power will be stripped from his office. This stems from the controversial decision the duke made to stand on principles and his moral conscience as a Catholic. Duke Henri refused to sign a bill in parliament that allowed for assisted suicide. Once his power is stripped and there is a second reading of the bill, Luxembourg will become the 3rd EU country to allow for Euthanasia.

Perhaps by falling on his political sword it will allow for attention to be drawn to the issue. Perhaps the people of Europe will see this as the growing tyranny of secularism that it is. My prayers are with the Duke. May God give him the grace to continue to stand up for morality on an ever increasingly secular continent.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5282483.ece