By ROB HERBST The Catholic Week MOBILE — Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi expressed both disappointment and pride just prior to the 2021-22 school year for Archdiocese of Mobile Catholic Schools.
Students returned to school on Aug. 18 many of the same COVID-19 protocols at schools, such as mandatory mask wearing, remain in place. Like last year, faculty members also took part in an online orientation to kick off the school year. Archbishop Rodi and others spoke from the Office of Catholic Education while faculty watched online from their various schools.
The kickoff orientation had been an in-person event prior to COVID-19 and earlier this summer, there were hopes for normalcy in school, but rising COVID-19 numbers curtailed those plans.
“Here this morning I suspect we wanted to be with each other,” Archbishop Rodi said during the orientation on Aug. 17. “It truly pains me that we’re beginning the school year as we did last year, with a Zoom meeting. I consider this really almost like a personal defeat. I was looking forward during the summer that this year would be different, this year would be more normal, this year we wouldn’t have to have the precautions that we had last year.
He added: “I was hoping that we would have very few regulations. But the situation changed very quickly. The preponderance of medical advice has been that masks are necessary at this time. I look forward to that changing and we will continue to monitor it.”
But Archbishop Rodi also expressed immense pride. Schools in the Archdiocese of Mobile opened last year as scheduled and remained open. Faculty played a critical part in making a certainly challenging year successful.
“You all were amazing and last school year our students had an education and a formation,” Archbishop Rodi said. “I saw the statistics in our country and most students in our country last year did not attend school in person. Our students were there. And they received an excellent Catholic education and formation because of you and your efforts.”
Archbishop Rodi also expressed pride on impact of Catholic education.
He stressed to faculty members that they are a part of a ministry, no matter their role.
“In Catholic schools we teach the values of Jesus Christ, the Gospel values. This is such a blessing to our young,” he said. “You all who serve in our Catholic schools, this is more than just employment. This is a ministry. All of you, no matter which subject you may teach, no matter what your role may be, you’re a part of this education. Each one of us is part of the ministry of Catholic education.”
According to Archbishop Rodi, students hear the messages that they can succeed and they are loved while at a Catholic school.
“Those two messages many young people never hear, not even at home. But we present those two messages to our young people and they are truly life-transforming."
“We change lives. That’s the ministry we can give by letting students know we are interested in them, we love them and you can do this.”
Orientation day also included recognition of those celebrating milestones in teaching. Faculty received certificates from their respective principals. An online commissioning ceremony was also held for principals.
“Sometimes being a teacher is a thankless job and it can be very tiring, exhausting and also rewarding,” Archbishop Rodi said. “I thank you for being willing to serve in this ministry.”