From the Washington State
Catholic Conference

In this Jubilee year, we, the Bishops of Washington State, take special note of the remarkable achievements of our Catholic schools, and renew our commitment to and our appreciation for the educational ministry of our Catholic communities. For more than 200 years, the heritage of Catholic education has been one of the unique hallmarks of the Church in the United States. No Catholic community in the world has made the same kind of broad commitment to faith education and academic excellence as the American Catholic Church. The Church of the State of Washington has been a beneficiary of that tradition.

The first Catholic schools were opened in 1856 by Father Jean Baptiste Brouillet in Vancouver, and in 1857 by the Sisters of Providence at Fort Vancouver. During the next 140 years, the mission of our Catholic schools contributed to the life and growth of the Church and the State of Washington. Our graduates have been leaders in our State, in aerospace, science, agriculture, politics, education, and religion. We are grateful to the women and men Religious who dedicated themselves to the ministry of Catholic education and made these contributions possible.

Today, this legacy continues in Washington State in the four Catholic institutions of higher learning enrolling over 12,000 students, in the 13 Catholic high schools with almost 7,000 students and in the 78 Catholic elementary schools serving over 22,000 pupils. As we enter the third millennium of Christian history, we are committed to continue to provide opportunities for excellence in education and faith formation for all our children.

Men and women of faith are challenged to make life meaningful in circumstances that are often complex and sometimes hostile to religious values. Yet values must be the foundation for family living, economic advancement, and scientific discovery. Our faith in Jesus Christ is the center of Catholic life. Our faith tradition urges the believer to embrace the goodness of this world and to participate with our God in creating and recreating the universe.

The Church has long recognized parents as the first educators of their children, and we support their efforts to be active participants in the education of their children. Moreover, faith development and the academic foundations of children are achieved through the teamwork of the entire community. We therefore encourage both parents and parishioners to participate in the educational ministries of their faith communities and parishes.

Now as in previous decades we are fortunate to have dedicated women and men, religious and lay, who have embraced the ministry of teaching. The faith formation of our children is dependent on teachers who are themselves deeply committed to faithful living. From the very beginning of Christian tradition, the teacher has been a significant person in the faith community. Jesus himself was a teacher.

Schools and parishes are blessed with fine educational leaders. When possible, it is imperative that our schools hire Catholic teachers, people who are committed to the practice of their faith, women and men who give personal witness in their family and professional lives to the values of the Gospel. It is of primary importance to do everything we can to support our teachers in their academic and catechetical education. We are also committed to just wages, meaningful collaboration and enthusiastic support for their day-to-day ministry.

In his recent encyclical Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) Pope John Paul II states that our Catholic faith tradition has always affirmed the unity of human experience. There is no chasm between faith and reason, faith and science, or faith and human fulfillment. Our God has created a world that strives for unity and truth in all things.

Human beings will dominate the 21st century with their ability to manage and share information, but communication of information without the primacy of the Word of Truth will lead to chaos. We, therefore, challenge our schools to the best use of technology, bringing the wisdom of our tradition to bear on this new age of information. Science and industry must also be challenged to wisely contribute to our knowledge of the universe.

Each child is formed in the image and likeness of God, and each child has been given unique talents and gifts. We encourage the efforts of our teachers to use their professional abilities to provide appropriate learning opportunities for all our students, so they can achieve their greatest potential.

The value of Catholic education is demonstrated through the commitment of talented teachers in our Catholic schools and religious education programs. The achievements of our graduates reflect the skills of our educational ministers, and more importantly, their lives reflect the Gospel values instilled in them.

In the early days of our State’s history, women Religious in Vancouver, Wenatchee, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima and Walla Walla urged parents to send their children to school. Catholic education was a ministry of the Church offered to all children. Everyone was welcome to learn of the hope and grace granted to us in Jesus Christ. The teaching ministry continues to have this characteristic today. It takes place within a community of faith and is supported by the works of charity and justice. We affirm its place in our mission and seek the support of this ministry from the whole Church. We promote the support of Catholic schools by our parish priests and parishioners, and we encourage collaboration between parish leaders and school leaders.

Economic support for education by the Catholic community is an act of faith. The educational ministry complements the ministries of respecting life, caring for the poor, and healing the sick. We are thankful for the generosity of the many people who have financially supported Catholic education. Our thanks is also extended to all those men and women who serve on school boards, governing boards, advisory committees, and as trustees of these institutions.

Our schools are called to be careful stewards of resources. God has blessed many people with wealth and material prosperity, and we encourage them to support the endowments and foundations of our schools. We urge administrators and leaders to model governance, personnel policies, and financial decisions on gospel values.

The celebration of the great Jubilee in this first year of the new millennium gives us a gifted moment to review the blessings we have received. In Christ the teacher, we have learned the wisdom of our Creator. Following his example we will continue to educate and form one another in God’s love. As your Bishops we are privileged to lead and support the mission of Catholic education. May all people come to know the fullness of God’s love in Christ Jesus, the Lord.

(The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) represents the Catholic Bishops of Washington State.)

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