Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis recently recalled childhood teachers at his Catholic elementary school in Pittsburgh and those at his Catholic high school, saying they had “such a formative influence on me.”
Reflecting on that influence encourages an “attitude of gratitude for what teachers have done for us” and “to look for ways in which we’re able to pass that forward … in supporting teachers who are embracing that vocation today,” he said.
Archbishop Hebda discussed the positive influence Catholic school teachers have on students during an interview with “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley for an episode debuting at 9 p.m. Aug. 25 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
Supporting educators includes “exalting their work as being a vocation,” Archbishop Hebda said. Pope Francis has helped the faithful see that in terms of a catechist’s vocation, the archbishop said, “and ultimately, Catholic school teachers and administrators are catechists in some ways, in which they’re really passing on the faith as well.”
“For us to … talk about that as a really important vocation that’s worthy of respect, I think that’s really helpful,” the archbishop said. And when teachers have “really done something to help your child, let them know,” he said.
Asked about types of “enriching routines” he would suggest families use at the beginning of a new school year, Archbishop Hebda mentioned ways to draw closer to Christ “and respond to the opportunities that he gives to us.”
“Even for a young student or … teacher to be able to consecrate their work to the Lord,” he said.
One tradition from his school days was beginning each day with “a morning offering … offering what it is that we’re doing,” which, for young students could be that their work is for the glory of God “and a way in which we’re able to respond to God’s love,” he said. “Or for the parent who’s a teacher or a lunch monitor, much the same thing,” he said. “That is, we give the best of what we have each day to the Lord and trust that he’s going to bless that.”
The morning offering could take place with family members at the breakfast table before students leave for school, he said.
To hear more of what Archbishop Hebda shared, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts at 9 p.m. Aug. 25 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and repeats at 1 p.m. Aug. 26 and 2 p.m. Aug. 27.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes an interview with Michelle Boris, coordinator of young adult ministries at St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake, and Paul Lucke, a World Youth Day participant from Our Lady of Grace in Edina, who describe their recent experience among roughly 1.5 million people at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal; and Colin Miller, founder of the Center for Catholic Social Thought, who discusses the center and an upcoming speaker series titled “The Catholic Social Difference,” about living the Church’s social teachings.
Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.
