Dear Parents and Students,
As St. Thomas Aquinas the Patron Saint of Catholic education stated “The study of truth requires a considerable effort – which is why few are willing to undertake it out of love of knowledge – despite the fact that God has implanted a natural appetite for such knowledge in the minds of men and women.” As the Administrator/Pastor of St. Francis I take that challenge by St. Thomas placing my time and energy into that considerable effort so our children may truly know God and His creation. As an educator for over forty years in the grade school, high school, and college level helping our young to know God, themselves, and their neighbor through the eyes of Love and Compassion, I see St. Francis de Sales as one of the most important missions of our Parish.
That mission is one that as the Body of Christ, unites Parish, Parents, Families, and Students in their search of our Faith seeking understanding. Our school helps our children to practice their Faith guiding them with the grace of God to be able to reach for the stars no matter what their interest for the Future. Our Joys and Dreams come to culmination through our working relationships as well the friendships formed in community which open doors and possibilities that we could never accomplish alone. As Jesus said remember I will be with you always until the end of the Age.
Hence with Faith our children aren’t simply educated to use Math, Science, History or the Arts, but how to use them properly in the world. For us as a Catholic Community to use them properly means to make the world a better place, not just our own little world that can become quit lonely. The great thinker and scientist Albert Einstein put it this way, “Religion without Science is blind, but Science without Religion is Lunacy (Crazy).” So many issues in our world without the eyes of Faith do not achieve the required results attempted. But with faith so many of our social issues could be transformed. Jesus did say “I did not come to destroy the world, but to save it, to transform it.”
This is our mission that through a boundless learning of all the many disciplines from Science to Religion through the eyes of Faith our children will grow to Love themselves, their family, their neighbor, their career, and most importantly their God. For where your heart is there is where your treasure is found. Blessings and prayers through this year at St. Francis de Sales
Fr. Ray Guthrie