This is the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. St. Libory’s has a long history with Catholic education. Until recent decades a school stood on its grounds, staffed with nuns. But with the exodus of the sisters in the 1970s this school, as well as many others across the U.S., closed. Catholic educations were consolidated into Grand Island. The St. Mary’s elementary school in Grand Island would also close leaving the present-day 6th-12th Central Catholic. It is also true that over the last 50 odd years that the “Catholic” in Catholic School had become “catholic” with a little c. The doctrinal side of the Catholic Faith became increasingly diluted and almost non-existent. As in many Catholic educational institutions, they lost their identity. But there is good news. The identity is returning. For the past four years I have served as chaplain at Grand Island Central Catholic. I have watched their administrator, Jordan Engel, transform the spiritual environment of the school. The school now has two Masses a week, weekly Adoration in the chapel, Stations of the Cross and icons of Saints in the hallways. They have in-school retreats and regularly bring inspirational speakers. Our Bishop Hanefeldt has made Mr. Engel the Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic School. With the Bishop’s support he is spreading his love of the Catholic Faith across our state. I tell you this to plant a seed of possibility. Please consider enrolling your youth at Central Catholic. If you would like to know more, please contact me or call the school. They would be delighted to help you. Yours in Christ, Fr. Sid.