In her wisdom, the Catholic Church teaches, “The Catholic school loses its purpose without constant reference to the Gospel and a frequent encounter with Christ.” (Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, 1977, para. 55)
At Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, we are committed to fostering these frequent encounters with Christ by inviting our students, families, and teachers to focus on key aspects of our Catholic identity. These include the practice of virtues and manners, the themes of Catholic Social Teaching, and the charism of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.
Our Virtue for August is orderliness—the habit of creating and maintaining order in one’s life, including personal space, appearance, and routines. This virtue is especially important at the start of the school year, helping families, students, and teachers transition smoothly by building structure and clarity from the very beginning.
Flowing from this virtue is our August Manner: Listening Attentively. Attentive listening, to parents, teachers, and peers, demonstrates respect and sets a positive tone for the year ahead. Listening is foundational; we cannot grow in other virtues or manners until we learn to truly hear and value one another.
This year, we are also introducing a monthly focus on Catholic Social Teaching. Catholic Social Teaching is the Church’s rich body of wisdom that helps us live out our faith in everyday life, grounded in the dignity of every person. It calls us to promote justice, serve the common good, and stand in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable. Our theme for August is Life and Dignity of the Human Person. Just as listening is rooted in respect, this theme reminds our Bulldog Family to see each person as a beloved child of God. Imagine the transformation—in our school, community, and world, if we all chose to act from a place of deep respect.
Finally, one of our campus goals this year is to more fully integrate the charism of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament into our daily life. This community of religious sisters faithfully served our school for over 30 years, and their legacy continues to shape us. Our Incarnate Word in Action focus for August is “Welcome with Love,” which encourages hospitality and the building of community.
Students can live this out by decorating classroom doors with welcoming messages, creating “Get to Know Me” cards, or writing prayers asking Jesus to help them be more open and kind. Families are also invited to take part by attending Mass together, sharing family photos to be displayed in classrooms, or volunteering at school events.
As we begin this new school year, I invite every member of our faith community—no matter your title, age, or faith background—to join us in being Rooted in the Word, Formed by Grace this August.
In service to the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament,
Michael Fierro
Principal