By Fr. Justin Fulton
I remember a summer day in June 2016. I had just completed my first year of priesthood, being stationed at Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln and teaching juniors at Lincoln Pius X. After a long year of teaching while still being an assistant priest at a large parish I enjoyed having a little bit of down time. I decided one day to take a walk around the church block on Sheridan Boulevard and I decided to walk through Cathedral Elementary School.
When I walked into that empty school building something profound happened. I realized that perhaps there is nothing more depressing or saddening than an empty school building, an empty campus, an empty playground. With students gone for the summer, the building was completely empty.
Students are the soul of a school. Without students, the school has no life. They are the actualizing agent that brings life to those physical buildings. To walk the empty halls and think of all of the learning that happened there, the lives, the laughter, the smiles, the life lessons, the sacrifice of teachers and staff, the cries of parents, all of that now gone in the summer and all that stood was an empty building—it was sad.
I said a prayer for the kids who were now enjoying their summers. I prayed for the staff, teachers, and all of the parents. And I looked forward to August when the school would have life again.
CSS once again gave a hand-up to families needing help at the beginning of the school year. Thanks to our donors, we helped provide school supplies and gift cards for many needy families in order to get their kids in a position to thrive this school year.
We are proud of all who have and are raising kids—especially those who have kids now in pre-school, kindergarten, grade school, middle and high school, and college —during this pandemic. All of the first day of school pictures shared on social media really shake one to the core... The gift of life... The gift of time...
The gift of memory, intellect, free will... The gift of community... The gift of dreaming....
The gift of parents wanting better for their kids than they had when they grew up... what a legacy to dream for and live up to!
We encourage everyone to enjoy the gift of your children. Look after them. Protect them. Sacrifice for them. Teach them. Mentor them. Love them like there is no tomorrow. Make sure they know Jesus and His desire for Eternal Life for all of His children.
May we all know amidst these trying times, Christ is Alive and He is in control!
And may we know that His gift of education and wisdom is given to each of us so that we may unlock the mysteries of this world for the buildup of His Kingdom and the care and buildup of one another in accord with His will.
Thank you for your prayers and your monetary support of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. May God bless us all!
