NCEA head says teaching a vocation that requires constant renewal

Published: 2006-10-25

OMAHA, Neb. (CNS) -- Teaching is a vocation that requires constant renewal of mind, heart and spirit, the National Catholic Educational Association president told educators in a keynote speech Oct. 13 at the 2006 fall conference of the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Omaha. Held at Creighton Prep High School, the conference drew 1,300 administrators and teachers. "Work hard and when your soul hears the chiming of the hours, be mindful of the great work of your co-workers, love the good God and you will have the grace of great things," Karen Ristau told the gathering. She touched on Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est" ("God Is Love"). The pope "explains he chose the topic of God is love because that message is at the heart of our faith. It touches everything we are and everything we do. Being a Christian, he says, is the result of our astonishing encounter with God, who loved us first," she said. She said the mission of the NCEA should inspire each educator "to advance the general interests of Catholic education, to encourage the spirit of cooperation and mutual helpfulness among Catholic educators, to promote by study, conference and discussion the thoroughness of Catholic educational work in the United States."

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .