Schools convocation reminds Catholic educators of common mission

TIMONIUM – Archbishop William E. Lori and Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Donna Hargens welcomed nearly 1,200 Catholic school educators, administrators and staff from around the Archdiocese of Baltimore to the Church of Nativity in Timonium Aug. 25 for a day of prayer, reflection and fellowship as a new school year dawns.

The theme of this year’s convocation was “We are one body in Christ,” and it echoed through the variety of speakers at the Convocation of Catholic Schools Mass and awards ceremony at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Media)

They gathered for the Convocation of Catholic Schools, which included a Mass, Hargens’ school-year-opening address and inspirational talks and music. Awards presentations for some of the region’s top educators and milestone celebrations were also a focus of the event, held for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hargens noted in her opening remarks how delighted she was to have such a large gathering again, saying, “We are grateful to God to be here in person.”

The theme of this year’s convocation was “We are one body in Christ,” and it echoed through the variety of speakers, ranging from Archbishop Lori to fifth-grader Thomas Cudjoe, an Archbishop Borders School student and Knott Scholarship recipient.

Pointing out that he was a “product of Catholic school education,” Archbishop Lori said it was the mission of those assembled to “do what you do best” and mold students in the faith.

He said that Baltimore-area Catholic schools were thriving in stressful educational times with enrollment growing 8 percent last year and expected to rise another 2 to 3.5 percent this year.

Archbishop Lori said parents recognize that archdiocesan schools are the “best value in primary education” and that the system’s schools are “more than meets the eye.” He said Catholic educators had a mission similar to the Holy Family’s of instructing children the way Jesus was instructed by Mary and Joseph.

He also said educators have a mission “to help people encounter Christ” and said the teachers who made the biggest impression on him “were those who loved me and cared about me as a person. To this day I remember them.”

Recently retired Chancellor of Schools James Sellinger received the Doris Musil Award at the Convocation of Catholic Schools Mass and awards ceremony at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Media)

It was a memorable day for many of the attendees, who hope to use the convocation as inspiration for the coming school year.

Mindi Imes, attending her ninth convocation as principal of St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis, said she gets a spark each year from the gathering. “Educators are an integral part of the Lord’s mission. It’s good to gather with that in mind and renew that common mission.”

Sharon Foley, a teacher at St. Francis Elementary School in Northeast Baltimore, has worked in Catholic schools for 40 years. She said times and teaching methods change, but the Catholic education mission remains the same. “This convocation reinforces how important our job is in molding and educating our children,” she said.

Recently retired Chancellor of Education James Sellinger, who was presented with the Doris Musil Award for his dedication to Catholic schools, emphasized the need for teamwork among teachers, administrators and staff.

“Collectively, we’ve done an amazing job to strengthen our schools. … We need to take the time to celebrate the success as a team,” Sellinger said, adding that he was happy to see the “upper deck full” with the overflowing crowd filling the Church of the Nativity’s balcony.

That success was celebrated with teacher of the year awards as well as the presentation of the inaugural Catholic Schools Partners Award to the Marion I. and Henry J. Knott Foundation and an award to the Knott Scholarship Funds.

The Archbishop Curley Drumline greeted attendees to the Convocation of Catholic Schools Mass and awards ceremony at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Media)

High School Teacher of the Year Anna O’Day, a theology instructor at St. Mary’s High in Annapolis, talked about the joy of teaching in Catholic schools, saying educators were “free to share the good of the Gospel with students.”

In addition to O’Day, Calvert Hall’s Kevin Ford was honored as the Independent Schools Teacher of the Year and St. Joseph Fullerton’s Kristin Urbanski was honored as the Elementary School Teacher of the Year. The three were selected for the top awards from 40 others recognized as teachers of the year.

Bishop Adam J. Parker, auxiliary bishop and vicar general of the archdiocese, delivered the closing remarks and Father Jesse Bolger, pastor of St. Joseph in Fullerton, and his band added a closing musical performance.

Bishop Parker said, “I love that we start off the school this way, reminding ourselves of our mission.”

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

To read profiles of the archdiocese’s teacher of the year, click on the following links:

Heavy topics in a culture of inclusion: St. Mary’s O’Day instructs heads and hearts

Fullerton alum named teacher of the year while serving her alma mater

Calvert Hall’s Kevin Ford, a teacher of the year for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, loves his job

To view more photos from the convocation, click below: