Tom Henihan
Express Staff
smokyriverexpress.com
@SmokyRiverExprs
Secularism prevails in most aspects of life, as most institutions in a multi-cultural, multi-denominational society are obliged to maintain the neutrality of secularism.
For Catholic parents wishing to provide their children with a faith-based education, public schools are not an option, as simply attending a religion class is no substitute for a comprehensive Catholic education.
Public schools do not provide the spiritual, moral and ethical ethos that is the profound and indispensible foundation of a traditional Catholic schooling.
That Catholic ethos is the foundation on which all school endeavours take place be they academic, arts, sports or any extracurricular activities.
World Catholic Education Day, celebrated annually forty days after Easter on Ascension Thursday, falls on May 10 this year.
World Catholic Education Day is an occasion when Catholics around the world consider the importance of Catholic education as a fundamental cornerstone of being raised Catholic.
The Board of Trustees of the Holy Family Catholic Regional Division (HFCRD), which has schools in Manning, Grimshaw, Peace River, McLennan, High Prairie and Valleyview, encourages all students and staff as well as supporters of Catholic Education to wear blue on World Catholic Education Day.
“We are also challenging all Catholic school divisions across Alberta to join us by wearing blue on World Catholic Education Day on May 10th,” said Board Chair Kelly Whalen, in an email issued by HFCRD. “By wearing blue, we are raising awareness that Catholic schools are needed in this province. By wearing blue, we are saying we want to keep prayer in the classroom. By wearing blue, we are saying yes to Christ.”
On May 10th, in a show of solidarity, supporters wearing blue are asked to post their photograph on social media with the hashtag #BlueforCatholicEd.