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August 25, 2009 Archbishop Daniel Bohan had a message for teachers and staff attending the Regina Catholic School’s opening mass, August 25, at Holy Rosary Cathedral: treat students with dignity and respect. “That is the heart of Catholic Education and what is possible for every Catholic teacher.” The Archbishop used an incident in his childhood, relived during a recent visit to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to emphasize his point. He attended Grades 9 and 10 at Holy Cross School and was taught by a Christian Brother, John Batterton. He and a friend visited their old teacher and his friend recounted the story: A local priest patrolled the neighbourhood in the evening to make sure the boys were at home before 9 pm. He ordered home a group of boys sitting on a doorstep but one the boys said it was his grandmother’s house and he wasn’t going anywhere. The next day, the priest burst into Brother Batterton’s class and began berating the boy for what he saw as disrespect. Batterton told the priest to leave. At the conclusion of the friend’s story, the aging Brother Batterton turned to Archbishop Bohan and said ‘Imagine that priest daring to accuse a Holy Cross boy’. “There it was,” said Archbishop Bohan, “The relationship. Jake (Batterton’s nickname) had profound respect for that crowd of 17-year-old lads. He treated them with dignity and respect and held them in his heart and they in turn held him in deep admiration and affection that has endured in the case of my friend for over 50 years.” Archbishop Bohan said because of his Catholic faith, Brother Batterton knew they were the image of God and treated them accordingly even at times when it was hard to see that. That, along with all the other advantages of faith based education, is the core of Catholic education, said the Archbishop. He referred to the letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians in which St. Paul said how determined he was to share with them not only the Gospel of God but also himself ‘because you have become so dear to us.’ “That to me is the soul of Catholic education, it is the spirit that energizes it and it is the treasure which only people who believe in the Good news of God can give.” 2 teachers who appear to share that energy are Cymone Bernauer a spring graduate from the University of Regina who began her teaching career this fall and Maxine Klein an 11 year veteran of teaching. Bernauer will teach physical education and coach high school students at Riffel High School and Klein will teach Grades 1-3 at Holy Rosary Elementary School. “I still get excited,” said Klein, “New ones come in, they’ve grown over the summer, they’ve changed, yes, the adrenaline gets pumping.” Bernauer said she was really nervous but after the first few days at school without the children she’s settled down. “ Now, I’m excited to meet the kids. Hang out with them and get to know everybody.” Regina Catholic and Public schools opened August 27. Frank Flegel 
 Click on any photo to see the gallery Archbishop Daniel Bohan's Homily |
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