By Maureen Smith
Teachers, administrators and staff at all the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Jackson are ready to share their gifts with students again this year. Each year, the Office of Catholic Schools selects a theme to unify all the schools across the diocese. The 2018/2019 theme is GIFTS – Gratefully Inspiring Faith Teaching Service
Before school started each school hosted a Catholic identity session focusing on the Beatitudes.

Fran Lavelle, Director of Faith Formation; Stephanie Brown, coordinator of school improvement, and Karla Luke, assistant superintendent developed the sessions using Blessings for Leaders: Leadership Wisdom from the Beatitudes by Dan R. Ebener and the recent Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, Gaudete Et Exsultate, as source documents.

According to superintendent Catherine Cook, the sessions were designed to assist faculty and staff in their faith journey of moving from disciples to apostles. Ebner says, “Disciples follow, learn, and then become Apostles. Apostles lead, teach, and make disciples.”
Lavelle and Brown led a Day of Reflection for metro Jackson area schools and Vicksburg Catholic. Lavelle travelled to Greenville St. Joseph while Brown and Luke led the day at Meridian St. Patrick School. Clarksdale has scheduled a day later in the month.

The remaining schools were provided the presentation materials to use on their own. In Columbus, pastor Father Jeffrey Waldrep headed up their day.
Each school agreed on five values they wanted to emphasize this year. Then, the staff divided into five teams to write a one-sentence prayer about their value. By the end of the day the sentences became a school prayer for the year.