School leaders seek spiritual respite before pace quickens

By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald

Just as “God, the master potter” patiently shapes and reshapes his children, Catholic educators have the awesome privilege of doing the same work in the vocation God has called them to, said Deacon Lawrence Houston during the homily of a July 28 Mass held for school leaders at St. Rita Church in New Orleans.

God, the master potter “is not only shaping and molding us, but is using us to shape and mold his people,” said Deacon Houston, the former principal of St. Joan of Arc Elementary School, now serving as the associate director for school faith formation for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

He said every school day brings a wonderful mixture of opportunities for growth, student success – and challenges – to teachers and administrators.
“But if we don’t get a little dirty (as God did when he created man out of clay), we are not about the work of God,” Deacon Houston said. “Who knows what  the ‘plate’ (the student) will become?” Fortunately, God gives educators the tools they need to do their ministry of “touching lives and bringing a change; helping (a student) move from darkness to the light of Christ,” he said.

Turning to the Mass’ Gospel, Deacon Houston invited the school leaders to visualize their schools as the “net” image used by Jesus to instruct his apostles: these nets collect all sorts of fish.

“Seen in this way, our schools are gathering places – they bring together children and adults from different walks of life,” Deacon Houston said. In those fishing nets are fish (children) who “are unique; they are big; they are small; they are weak; they are strong; they are confused; they are lost; and I dare say, they are scared,” Deacon Houston said. “They are needing to be looked after; needing some sorting so that we can tend to them, (while) recognizing and affirming who they are and whose they are.”

Deacon Houston concluded with one more scriptural reminder: Christ tells his apostles to let the children come to him – the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

“No child is ‘bad,’” he said. “This is a mindset that has to be changed, because many of our children come into our schools – into our nets – and they already have in their minds that they are not good, that they cannot achieve.

“To all of you called into this vocation: Take your nets, gather them in and begin to shape and mold new disciples of Christ!”

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