Michele Lafferty
Teachers are the salt of the earth in the sense that they are catalysts in getting their children to learn.
This was Archbishop John Dew’s message to the largest group of teachers ever at the annual commissioning Mass in the cathedral on 21 February.
In celebrating the Mass, Archbishop John Dew took up the theme ‘salt and light together’ which was the theme for the Mass as it is for the Pentecost Archdiocesan Synod.
He thanked all teachers of Catholic Schools for the outstanding contribution they make to the Church in Wellington. The very obvious connection to this theme for teachers was that teachers are catalysts – the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Archbishop John reminded the teachers that when they prayed the synod prayer, it would remind them that they refreshed and enriched the children in their care.
He finished his homily with the reference to the theme ‘salt and light together’ being:
The school staff together
The teachers and parents together
Teachers and the CEC together
Teachers, parents, CEC and the archdiocese together
Together, he said, we are the salt and light for the children in our care.
The Catholic Education centre was delighted that such a large group of teachers came to the Mass. Each year the numbers grow, with many whole staffs attending and enjoying a meal together afterwards. All archdiocesan schools in the North Island were represented.
Thirty primary and secondary teachers were awarded their accreditation as a teacher of Education in Faith at Levels 1, 2 and at graduate level, and three received endorsements on accreditations already held.
Congratulations to all those who received these representations of much hard work.
The opportunity was taken to farewell and thank him Fr Des Darby for his great contribution to Wellington’s Catholic Schools during his four years as Vicar for Education.
Good luck in Feilding Des – you will be missed.