Congratulations to St. Mary Catholic School in Aberdeen on this 100th anniversary! I’m told the school actually dates back even further as it started under a different name. I told the congregation that soon after I arrived as the archbishop of Seattle in 2019 I started hearing about this school and the tremendous support it receives from parishioners and alumni. That is what it takes!
Below is the homily from Saturday’s Mass which is a fitting tribute to Catholic education as a whole.
When we celebrate a 100th anniversary, it is natural to recall people, buildings, accomplishments, and memories. But the readings today invite us to look deeper. A centennial celebration is not ultimately about what we have done for God. It is about what God has done among us. For one hundred years, God has been blessing, forming, teaching, and sending forth generations of young people through this Catholic school.
As St. Paul tells us in the Letter to the Ephesians: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.”
Today is an opportunity to recognize those blessings and give thanks.
St. Paul begins with a remarkable truth: “He chose us in him.” Before any student walked through these doors, before any teacher entered a classroom, before the first brick was laid a century ago, God already knew each person who would be touched by this school.
This is the foundation of Catholic education. We do not begin with test scores or achievements. We begin with the dignity of the human person. Every child who enters a Catholic school is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses an infinite dignity that no one can earn and no one can take away.
For one hundred years this school has proclaimed to children: You are loved. You are known. You are chosen. Your life has purpose.
In a world where young people often define themselves by success, appearance, popularity, or achievement, Catholic schools continue to proclaim a different truth: “You are first and foremost a beloved child of God.” That message may be the most important lesson a student ever learns.
The Gospel presents one of the most joyful encounters in Scripture. Mary visits Elizabeth, and Elizabeth immediately recognizes that God is present. The child within her leaps for joy. Mary’s response is the Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”
Notice what Mary does. She does not keep Christ to herself. She carries Him to others. That is the mission of every Catholic school. The goal is not simply to teach students about Jesus. The goal is to help students encounter Him and then carry Him into the world.
For one hundred years countless teachers, principals, pastors, religious sisters, parents, and staff members have done exactly that. Through prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, service, and daily witness, they have carried Christ into classrooms and hallways.
Many graduates may not remember every math lesson or spelling test. But they remember the pastors and teachers who loved them, encouraged them, believed in them, and reflected Christ to them. Often, it is that witness that stays with a person for a lifetime. This is a foundational element of what prepares every graduate of a Catholic School to carry Christ into the world.
Psalm 45 speaks of beauty, honor, and nobility. The Psalm reminds us that greatness is not merely external. True greatness is found within. A Catholic school seeks not only educated minds but virtuous hearts. Knowledge alone is not enough. In fact, in his first Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul warns that knowledge leads to pride. It is love that builds up the person and the human family.
The world has many intelligent people. What it desperately needs are people of integrity. People who are honest. People who are compassionate. People who seek justice. People who serve others. People who know right from wrong and have the courage to choose what is right. People capable of loving in the manner of Jesus Christ, which is to put God and others first.
For one hundred years this school has been engaged in that sacred work of character formation. The true measure of success is not simply what graduates accomplish. It is who they become.
The success of a Catholic school can be found in faithful marriages, loving parents, generous citizens, dedicated priests and religious, compassionate healthcare workers, honest business leaders, and disciples who quietly serve others. This is what human flourishing looks like concretely!
One of the great insights of Catholic education is that faith and life belong together. We do not separate soul from body, faith from reason, or prayer from everyday life. The Church speaks about the formation of the whole person.
For one hundred years this school has sought to develop: the mind through learning, the body through activity, the heart through relationships, the character through virtue, and the soul through faith. In other words, Catholic education seeks to help children become fully alive.
As Jesus Himself grew “in wisdom and age and favor before God and man,” so Catholic schools help students grow in every dimension of their humanity. The goal is not simply successful graduates. The goal is holy men and women. This is what it means to become the person God has created us to be.
Every anniversary asks an important question. Not only: “What have we received?” But also: “What will we hand on?”
The people who founded this school one hundred years ago made sacrifices because they believed children deserved an education rooted in faith, truth, and human dignity. They planted seeds whose fruits they would never fully see. Today we enjoy the harvest. Now it is our turn to plant.
Our mission remains unchanged: to uphold the dignity of every child, to form strong character, to deepen faith, to educate the whole person, and to help young people discover God’s purpose for their lives.
Mary’s words in today’s Gospel provide a fitting conclusion for a centennial celebration: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” After one hundred years, those words could well be the song of this school. Not “Look what we have accomplished.” But rather: “Look what God has accomplished among us.”
For a century, God has been blessing this community, forming young disciples, and raising up generations of faithful people. Today we give thanks for the past, rejoice in the present, and entrust the future to God’s providence, confident that the Lord who began this good work one hundred years ago will continue it for generations yet to come.
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