Learning to be Quick to Listen

As the summer break winds down and the new school year begins, Catholic students around the world are preparing to return to the classroom. This time of transition can be both exciting and overwhelming. New schedules, new teachers, new classmates, and a new academic workload can easily pull our focus in a million different directions. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, it's crucial to remember the most important thing of all: our relationship with God . The start of a new school year is the perfect opportunity to rededicate ourselves to Him, to invite Him into our studies, our friendships, and our extracurricular activities. Let's make a conscious effort to keep our eyes fixed on Him, seeking His guidance and strength in everything we do. Keeping God at the center of our lives isn't always easy, especially with the many distractions that come with school. But by making small, intentional choices each day, we can cultivate a deeper connection with Him. Start each morning wi...

In societies that have largely forgotten or abandoned Christianity, Catholic schools are often seen as vital tools for reintroducing faith to the wider culture. Principal Jim Bailey of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School can testify to this. He was in the process of entering the Catholic Church when he became the principal of the South Anchorage elementary school in 2008. “Being principal strengthened my desire to join the church,” Bailey told the Catholic Anchor. He credits the Catholic school experience and its immersion in faith with influencing him. It is a phenomena he sees occur with many parents who send their children to Catholic school. This year, Bailey said the school has at least three parents going through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — the process by which adults are introduced to the Roman Catholic Church. “And that’s fairly typical,” Bailey said of parents who come to the faith through their contact with the school. Evangelization, he said, is the natural outgr...