Video Transcript

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all our Catholic school families, and to our faculty and staff for your patient endurance during this unparalleled time in history. I am deeply concerned about the dramatic impact this pandemic has had on you all. Our Catholic schools have been working diligently over the summer to make plans for reopening. We are eager to begin the new academic year while focusing on keeping students and teachers safe and healthy. Every decision that goes into the plans is so important because it impacts the fundamental cell of society and the Church: the family.

We live in a time of constant change. Every day we face new challenges and need to make difficult decisions.  I am reminded of the famous words of St. John Henry Newman: “To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.” God is giving us manifold opportunities to make changes so we can grow in holiness and advance toward perfection during this time of COVID-19! Let us trust that the Lord is with us, and let us use this time to draw closer to His Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Parents and educators, you are called to be leaders and models for our children and young people, in our schools, our neighborhoods and parishes, models in particular of the great virtues that we call the theological: faith, hope and charity. These virtues are needed more than ever now. We also need to draw strength through other virtues, like patience and perseverance, kindness and compassion. All of us know that learning in our schools will be different this year. But we can take heart in knowing that the Holy Spirit is with us, now as in the past, providing us inspiration and bestowing His gifts of wisdom, counsel, and peace. We are not alone in this.

Every Catholic school is, above all, a place to encounter the living Jesus Christ. This is our goal for every child and his or her parents. This year, that will mean engaging virtually with each other, through modern technological tools as well as meeting in-person. We are focused not only on ensuring that students, staff, and families are spiritually and intellectually nourished, but that we also provide a safe and healthy environment for everyone.  We discern and balance these difficult decisions based on varying viewpoints and perspectives, including the input of parents and Catholic school educators, local medical professionals in the areas of infectious disease, pediatrics, and child psychology, and information from national, state, and local health authorities and organizations.

Now I would like to introduce you to Dr. Kellie Kruger of Mayo Clinic Primary Care. Dr. Kruger is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and she enjoys caring for patients of all ages. Her own children are excited and happy to return to their Catholic school. She will share with us how she is preparing her family for the new school year:

[Dr. Kellie Kruger]

Thank you, Bishop Olmsted!

I am grateful for the opportunity to share just a little about how my family and I are preparing for this new school year during these most unusual circumstances.

My kids are so excited and happy to be able to see their friends and teachers. And I am excited for them too! As a mom, I have talked with my kids about how things are going to be a little different this year, doing it in small steps. This is similar to how my husband and I prepared them to go to Mass for the first time during this pandemic, reminding them of how important it was to continue to go to Mass and receive the Sacraments, even if things were a little different than before.

As a physician, I remind my children that it is important to wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and maintain physical distance. Love of neighbor and caring for those around us is part of our Catholic faith. Washing our hands and masking up keeps us safe — but also keeps those around us safe, and this is an example of how we can love those around us and care for each other, as Jesus taught us to do.

These are very, very challenging times. That’s why my husband I believe that it is even more important now – during these difficult times – to remain committed to our Catholic schools, to help us teach our children the Catholic faith, what is good and true and holy, and to pursue those things. This is critical to the formation and education of our children, perhaps more now than ever before. We can do this – even with virtual learning and social distancing – with the grace and help of God!

[Bishop Olmsted]

Thank you, Dr. Kruger, for sharing your valued insights as a mom and a physician. You remind us that faith and reason are like two wings on which we rise to the splendor of truth. Sacred Worship, our service of others and Catholic education are built on the Scriptures and Tradition as well as on solid science and medicine.

As we move ahead with the academic year, we pray that our students and families will experience anew that each Catholic school and each Catholic home is a Spirit-filled community which fosters a readiness to serve, a love of learning and a desire for God.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.   Jesus, we trust in You.

May Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.