On the morning of Aug.26, the end of summer became a reality for the more than 250 staff members of the Light of Christ Roman Catholic School Division No.16, in North Battleford.
Before turning to assessment, best practice and learning strategies, teachers and support staff joined together for the 2013 opening mass, celebrated by Bishop Albert Thevenot and concelebrants from many of the surrounding parishes. In the afternoon, Bishop Thevenot and Face to Face Ministries leader Ken Yasinski addressed LOCCSD staff members, affirming the division's faith theme of the year, Following Our Faith Compass: Live It, Breathe It, Share It.
Bishop Thevenot pointed out that the "it" in the theme is Christ the person. He encouraged staff members to live their faith so they teach the students about life and building relationships; to breathe the faith to help students "grow in life" and faith; and to share faith, the gift God gave us, with students and most importantly, to share this faith with joy.
Yasinski suggested to staff that using the faith compass for direction in the new school year will not come by chance, but will come about by a conscious decision: a decision to place Jesus at the centre of our lives, a decision to pray and a decision to serve. It is not automatic, he suggested, but rather it comes from the decisions we make.
There will be many decisions made, this coming year, regarding the hundreds of students who will soon be entering school halls. With the encouraging words of Bishop Thevenot and Ken Yasinski, LOCCSD staff will be better prepared to live, breathe and share the gift of Faith with their students.
