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.
This month, we focus on the virtue of Courtesy, treating others with respect and recognizing that everyone is made in the image and likeness of God. This virtue is especially important in October as we join Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of San Antonio in observing Solidarity Day. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the harmful effects of bullying on children and society. It invites us to move beyond our differences and recognize the shared dignity that unites us as the one Body of Christ.
Flowing from the virtue of Courtesy, our focus for manners this month is Taking Turns and Sharing. In today’s world, self-interest often guides decisions, with little regard for how our choices affect others—including strangers. By practicing patience and generosity, we can break down the walls of “Me, Myself, and I,” and build a stronger sense of community rooted in “We and Us.”
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 October is Rights and Responsibilities of the Human Person. It is an opportunity for our school community to focus on protecting life, from conception until natural death, and the basic rights that should be afforded to all human beings.
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 October is the “Word Made Flesh through Prayer,” which encourages us to focus on the Eucharist and prayer life.
Students can participate in a living rosary or weekly decade of the Rosary in class, keep a personal or classroom prayer journal, or learn more about the Eucharist and reflect on its meaning. Families are also invited to take part by attending Adoration with their student, creating a prayer corner at home, or praying together before meals or bedtime.
As we continue with our 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 October.
In service to the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament,
Michael Fierro
Principal