Bishop Persico celebrates Catholic Schools Week Mass with members of ECCSS
Bishop Lawrence T. Persico of the Diocese of Erie joined with students, faculty, and staff from throughout the Elk County Catholic School System (ECCSS) on Tuesday morning at Queen of the World Church in St. Marys for the celebration of a special Catholic Schools Week Mass.
During his homily, Persico told attendees that he was delighted to be there to celebrate Catholic Schools Week with everyone.
“This is an exciting time in all of our schools – when we celebrate who we are and what we’re about,” Persico said. “Not only that, but also we come together as a school family with our priests, our teachers, the administrators, and all the faculty, parents, and grandparents who are here.”
Persico noted that students in Elk County are fortunate to have the opportunity to attend Catholic schools throughout their elementary, middle, and high school years.
“We are fortunate that here in St. Marys we have a school system that supports young people from the very beginning of their education all the way through high school. Consider yourselves blessed to have this opportunity,” Persico said.
Joining Persico for the Mass were Fr. Kevin Holland, pastor of St. Boniface Church in Kersey and campus minister at ECC/St. Marys Catholic Middle School; Fr. Thomas More Sikora, O.S.B, pastor of St. Mary’s Church; Fr. Thomas Curry, O.S.B, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Fr. Jeffery Noble, pastor of Queen of the World Church, and Fr. Justin Pino, pastor of St. Leo Magnus Church in Ridgway and vice president for Catholic mission for the ECCSS.
“It is their support through their parishes that keeps the Elk County Catholic School System alive,” Persico said of the parish priests.
Persico also shared with attendees that Tuesday was the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, which tied in with Catholic Schools Week.
“Saint John Bosco worked with youth, starting off with a lot of homeless boys, and then eventually as his community grew, he brought in with the Sisters that he started, he brought in girls,” Persico said. “What John Bosco wanted to do was give these young people, like you, an opportunity not only to learn academically, but
also to learn about Jesus Christ. That’s the whole purpose of Catholic schools – so that each and every one of you has the opportunity to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ wasn’t important to you, you could go to the public school. You’ll get the same academics, but you will not hear about Jesus. You will not be able to learn about him and to develop a relationship with him. Only a Catholic school provides that opportunity.”
Persico encouraged all of the students within the ECCSS to take advantage of this opportunity, explaining that developing a relationship with Jesus was especially important during their formative years so that as they have that relationship as they age and grow in faith.
Persico also told students that as they rejoice during this Catholic Schools Week, they should remember to express their gratitude to their parents, pastors, and all who have made it possible for the Catholic school experience to be a part of their lives.
“Thank them for giving you the opportunity to have a relationship with Jesus Christ,” Persico said.
At the end of the Mass, ECCSS President Sam MacDonald took to the podium to offer a few remarks. MacDonald shared that prior to the start of the Mass, he had the opportunity to chat briefly with City of St. Marys Manager Joe Fleming, who was also in attendance.
“Joe has been a longtime supporter of Elk County Catholic. He has kids in the school system,” MacDonald said. “He said to me, ‘You know, this is my favorite event of the year. This is the thing you guys do that really strikes me as just an awesome event.’ I agree with that. That’s actually what I was going to say. This is my favorite event of the year.”
MacDonald noted that members of the ECCSS community come together for a variety of events, such as football games and pep rallies, but the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass provides the opportunity for all students, faculty, and staff to celebrate Mass together.
“I will say that it’s hard to put together,” MacDonald said. “There are a lot of moving parts.”
MacDonald expressed his appreciation to all those involved with the work and planning to make Tuesday’s Catholic Schools Week Mass possible, as well as to all of the faculty and staff members for everything they do throughout the year.
“Nobody anywhere sends their kids to a Catholic school because the president of that system is a nice guy. They do it because of the formation that our faculty and staff provide,” MacDonald said.
Pino also offered a few remarks, and he announced representatives from each of the schools within the ECCSS – St. Leo School, St. Marys Catholic Elementary School, St. Marys Catholic Middle School, and Elk County Catholic High School – as they presented gifts to the bishop.
Catholic Schools Week activities are set to continue at all of the schools within the ECCSS throughout the remainder of the week.