Make the new school year “a year of friendship”

Festive music, the choir from St. John Paul II High School singing, and colorful banners of every Catholic school of our diocese carried by students in a procession – the oldest class of every school participated in a festive Mass with Bishop Michael Mulvey at the Cathedral, marking the beginning of the school year 2024-2025.
 
In his homily, the bishop asked what is special about Catholic schools. “You do not only receive knowledge but you are formed,” he said. He remembered from his Catholic education that they had to do a weekly spelling test and correct themselves. They cheated. One week, their teacher, a sister, asked for the books – and discovered the cheating. As a punishment, every student had to rewrite the words where they cheated a thousand times. “I had to write 6,000 words,” he told the students. He made it up to 4,000 until midnight. “It taught me how to be responsible and upright.”
 
Another advantage: “We learn who Jesus Christ is,” said the bishop, who recommended the students read the Gospel. Jesus is your best friend. He loves you, and He is always there.” In the Bible, they could see with whom Jesus talked—not only with his best friends but also with outsiders like Zacchaeus. “If you act like him, you become a free person.”
 
Lastly, how can we stay close to Jesus? “This year, the Church celebrates the Eucharistic Revival,” Bishop Mulvey says. Every time we go to Mass, we receive the greatest gift—“This is Jesus.”
 
At the end, before taking pictures with every school, Superintendent Dr. Rosemary Henry congratulated Bishop Mulvey on his upcoming birthday, and two students gave him a donation to a charitable organization of his choice.
 
The bishop wished that the new school year would be “a year of friendship” and recommended that they become missionaries and help others get to know Jesus Christ.