Brother Puccio's Reflection 1.26.25

In my Grade 9 theology class, we’re working our way through the Old Testament, where God sometimes makes “grand entrances,” with burning bushes, columns of flame, roars of thunder, dramatic, startling appearances. He talks personally to his people, gives advice, warnings, and encouragements.  The other day one of my students asked, “Brother, do you think God will ever appear like that in OUR lifetime?” (It may have been a serious question... or maybe not!  He likes to get me off-track!)  But it was a good question. I said, “Well, I’m not expecting to have any visions, but as a matter of fact, just last month at our ‘Pizza and Prayer’ we talked about exactly that question.”  We asked, “Where do you find God?”

 

Our conversations noted that one might find God in the beauty, complexity, and scale of the universe; one might find him in the person of Jesus, active in the world today through us, available to us each day in the Eucharist; one might find God in the Holy Spirit, the spirit of love that animates us and calls us to community.  We know, too, that God created Adam in his image, so – guess what? – hold up a mirror! -- each of us reflects the Creator: we find God in one another. In the tradition of Xaverian spirituality, we conclude that God is ever-present in the common, ordinary, unspectacular flow of everyday experience.

 

If you’re ever inclined to wonder about the value of a Catholic education, I think we see it precisely in these regular opportunities to ask and answer essential questions about life. When we consider “What’s the value of Catholic education?” the answer is so easy!  If we believe we’re all on a journey to God, wouldn’t it make sense to have a roadmap?  Catholic education provides that roadmap, gives us a moral compass, and puts gas in the tank for our journey.  

 

Our new Boston Archbishop Richard Henning put it this way recently in The Pilot:

 

 

Can you think of a time when we’ve needed Catholic education more?  I can’t. In a world of dizzying change and moral compromise, Catholic education at Malden Catholic provides both an anchor and a springboard for richly rewarding, purposeful, loving lives. You may recall that this past year MC engaged in a Mission Effectiveness process that culminated in November with the arrival of a Visiting Team whose task was to validate our Self-Study.  We are pleased that, speaking earlier this month to the strength of our Malden Catholic mission, XBSS executive director Patrick Slattery and his committee reported in part:

 

 

“United in Faith and Community,” the theme for this year’s Catholic Schools Week, celebrated January 26 – February 1, powerfully reminds us of core values that have made Catholic education the standard-bearer among American schools, shaping the lives of generations of  young men and women for family, leadership and service.

 

As we celebrate this week the good work done at Catholic Schools throughout the country – that powerful combination of faith, academics, community, and service -- we remember with thanksgiving those who built the foundation on which we stand today:  Congregations of religious nuns, brothers, and priests, dedicated lay educators, and  parents who have invested wisely in their children. We hope that students, faculty, and staff will enjoy the events we have planned for this week (described elsewhere in this Update.)  Thank you for your continued support of the mission of Malden Catholic as we build futures of promise for our students, and as we transform lives more to reflect the image of our God.

 

Brother Thomas Puccio, C.F.X., Ed.D., H’18