The following video was shared by one of my Catholic school colleagues, and I just had to pass it along. It would be fun to show at the beginning of a faculty meeting.
An All Star Video Tribute to Teachers
Encouragement for the Weary
I had a great first day of school yesterday, and I think my students did too. But I saw a look on some of their faces that I’ve seen before: “I don’t belong here because I always fail. So I’m done trying no matter how inspirational you try to be today.”
The following video is for them, and for everyone who feels exhausted from trying and trying, but not succeeding, and who feels like giving up. And I’m not just talking about students, either. Catechesis is a tough ministry, and sometimes it feels like we get nowhere. Modern culture isn’t exactly Catholic-friendly these days, so we can feel like our feeble attempts mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. But as you watch and listen to Nicholas James Vujicic, recall the words of the prophet Jeremiah:
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.”
Thanks to Wes Fryer for sharing the video.
Inject Some Enthusiasm into Your Teaching with this ACE Video
There’s nothing like youthful enthusiasm, as these young teachers from Notre Dame’s ACE program demonstrate. I smiled for the entire 18 minutes watching this video. I especially liked Mustache Math at about 8:50. We need more Catholic teachers to share their stories like this. If you haven’t yet visited the website for Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education, I highly recommend it. What a great gift to Catholic education.
I’ve had the pleasure of being on the Notre Dame campus twice for ND Vision, but have never visited the ACE offices. The next time I go back there I will certainly be stopping in to meet the people behind this remarkable program.
In Praise of Teaching
We, the Catholic bishops of the United States, wish to offer our deep gratitude to those individuals who staff our Catholic elementary and secondary schools, the dedicated lay and religious administrators and teachers. We applaud their professionalism, personal sacrifices, daily witness to faith, and efforts to integrate learning and faith in the lives of their students in order to “accomplish the very purpose of evangelization: the incarnation of the Christian message in the lives of men and women” (Lay Catholics in Schools: Witnesses to Faith, no. 31). We take this opportunity to encourage all who are devoted to working in Catholic schools to “persevere in their most important mission” (Ecclesia in America, no. 71). — Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium, USCCB
You have been called to teach. This is a vocation, a Christian vocation…There, at your teacher’s chair and desk, God has called you by name to an indispensable service to the truth. — Pope John Paul II, October 4, 2001
Audio Reflection for a Busy Teacher
Feeling overwhelmed with your teaching responsibilities? Here’s a great audio reflection from BarbinNebraska to help put things in perspective:
An Inspirational Introduction to the Value of Community
We like to think that we can manage on our own. We pride ourselves in being free, independent, and in control of our own destiny. It doesn’t always work out like that. Our car gets broken into, the baseball game gets called because of rain, or we get home from the store only to find the bread we bought is moldy. How do we help our students deal with the trials of life, both great and small?
One way is to remind them that in Christ they are never alone. In the current climate of “I’m spiritual but not religious,” it is important to help students understand the value of a community united in Christ. A religion is not a way of controlling or limiting people’s freedom; rather, a religion is a group of people who come together because they believe in the same thing and who support each other on their faith journeys. For Catholics, that community is the Body of Christ.
Despite our culture’s mantra of “I can do it myself,” we all need help from time to time. This is poignantly demonstrated in the following video, which would make a powerful introduction to the concept of what Church really is.
Thanks to Deacon Greg Kandra for sharing the video.