People tell me all the time why they send their children to a Catholic school, and what I hear most often is because of the spiritual element. What they say most specifically is, “My children learn more about their Catholic faith.”

    Certainly that should be a primary consideration because any school can provide strong academics. I would be the first to admit that although our test scores at St. Vincent’s are above average and our academic expectations are high; the public schools in this area do an adequate job of educating students.

    Nevertheless, my children attended public schools in Fort Wayne, and if I had the chance to change the past, they would attend Catholic schools not only because of what they would learn about being Catholic, but more because of what I have learned about my faith from working here. I have learned a great deal about my relationship with Christ by being a part of what happens here.

    Every year the principals of the Diocese attend Principal’s Institute at Pokagon Park. It is a time of renewal after the start of the year when we truly need a break from the stress. We have some of the best speakers who present at those days, and this year it was Father Ron Nuzzi from Notre Dame.

    He talked about Catholic Schools and how they still make a difference. The most significant statement that I heard that day was when he said that the whole parish community is better in faith because so many people are committed to living the faith.

    Think about that for a while. How many people in this parish community are committed to living the faith? We have over 400 families who are committed to sending their children to our school. We have forty teachers who work for a lower salary because they are committed to the faith.

    We have cafeteria workers, custodians, teacher assistants and parent volunteers who work here because they are committed to the faith. We have parishioners who donate to our school fund because they are committed to the faith. Is it any wonder that what happens at St. Vincent de Paul School allows God’s grace to come alive?

        Living our faith is not easy. We are called to do so many things that are just plain hard to do. Our children are introduced to so many things that are not part of our Catholic values. The Catholic school provides our students with the knowledge and spiritual formation they need to be able to resist the threatening elements in our society.

    St. Vincent’s school is different because we show our students that their salvation is important, and it is based on how they treat each other and show their love for Christ. It isn’t based on how much money they can make in a lifetime or how high they can make it on the corporate ladder.

    So many good things happen in our building every day, and I am sure that it is attributable to the power of God’s grace working through the people who are here every day. St. Vincent’s School is not a private school. It is a Catholic school. Tell me that you haven’t learned to be a better Catholic because of what happens at our school.

    I have learned about what it means to be Catholic and what it means to be Christian. I guess parents are right when they say because of the spiritual element.