Letter to bishop makes plea for healing in Catholic community
The following letter to the editor appears in today's edition of the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader.
Being a Catholic all my life and a graduate of three area Catholic institutions, I sent this letter to Bishop Joseph Martino with hope for a change of heart.
Bishop Martino:
As a parent of a St. Jude grade school student, Holy Redeemer High School student and a Marywood University student, I have a lot vested in Catholic education. My husband and I have made many sacrifices to send our children to Catholic schools, and the main reason is because of the fortitude of the teachers.
These teachers stood behind the transitions and the changes, and they made tremendous efforts to help keep our school systems working with as little disruption to their students as humanly possible. These teachers were moved about and faced with many obstacles in preparing their subjects for the start of school and did so without additional compensation and little gratitude.
When my daughter was very ill, I e-mailed her teachers and immediately received feedback: her class assignments, homework and well-wishes for her health. (I hope to receive such feedback from this office.)
I don’t know a single parent who does not support the teachers in their effort of maintaining their union. These teachers have always bargained respectfully, and strikes were never an issue until you came up with this new idea for a different bargaining plan. Teachers are uniting. Students are uniting for their teachers. Parents are uniting to end this disruption of school and possible lengthening of the school year.
Now I hear that public school teachers are also uniting in support of our teachers. Bishop, please unite with us – not be against us. We have been through enough. Meet with this union. Listen to their needs as Jesus listened to the needs of his people. Hear the cries of your people; don’t turn a deaf ear.
We need you to bring us together so we can be a Catholic Christian family again. Too many people have been hurt and angered over the past year.
Let this be the time to heal during Lent so we can all celebrate our risen Lord in the joy and happiness of our faith and not with heavy hearts.
Mary Ann Keefe Mountain Top
Bishop Martino:
As a parent of a St. Jude grade school student, Holy Redeemer High School student and a Marywood University student, I have a lot vested in Catholic education. My husband and I have made many sacrifices to send our children to Catholic schools, and the main reason is because of the fortitude of the teachers.
These teachers stood behind the transitions and the changes, and they made tremendous efforts to help keep our school systems working with as little disruption to their students as humanly possible. These teachers were moved about and faced with many obstacles in preparing their subjects for the start of school and did so without additional compensation and little gratitude.
When my daughter was very ill, I e-mailed her teachers and immediately received feedback: her class assignments, homework and well-wishes for her health. (I hope to receive such feedback from this office.)
I don’t know a single parent who does not support the teachers in their effort of maintaining their union. These teachers have always bargained respectfully, and strikes were never an issue until you came up with this new idea for a different bargaining plan. Teachers are uniting. Students are uniting for their teachers. Parents are uniting to end this disruption of school and possible lengthening of the school year.
Now I hear that public school teachers are also uniting in support of our teachers. Bishop, please unite with us – not be against us. We have been through enough. Meet with this union. Listen to their needs as Jesus listened to the needs of his people. Hear the cries of your people; don’t turn a deaf ear.
We need you to bring us together so we can be a Catholic Christian family again. Too many people have been hurt and angered over the past year.
Let this be the time to heal during Lent so we can all celebrate our risen Lord in the joy and happiness of our faith and not with heavy hearts.
Mary Ann Keefe Mountain Top
posted by SDACT at
9:14 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home