Back-to-School Message from Bishop Solis

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Greetings of Christ’s peace and love to all students, faculty and staff as you begin a new school year. I hope that you had a nice summer vacation and now, for school, are ready to face a new opportunity to learn and develop your intellectual gifts, but most importantly to continue to grow in our faith.

Education is not only to inform our minds but also to transform our hearts. Our Catholic schools offer a holistic approach to learning that integrates moral and spiritual formation to the full development of every student’s mind, body and spirit in a safe environment conducive for academic excellence. As an integral part of the mission of the Church, evangelization is an essential component of learning; that is, the proclamation of the Gospel to know Christ and be able to encounter his loving presence in everything that we do.

Schools are meant to support parents in the upbringing of their children. Education creates that partnership and covenant commitment in helping prepare the students’ intellect and heart, their body and soul to become beacons of hope, agents of change in our society, and a leaven in building a better world.

I hope that the grace of God accompanies all of you in your studies and activities to create in your school an environment of learning and value formation rooted in love, respect and care for one another. I pray that you will establish friendships and form a community where each of you and your classmates, teachers and staff treat one another as brothers and sisters.  

As you embark on a journey of learning, I extend my prayerful wishes to all the students, teachers and staff as well as all the parents for another fruitful, successful and grace-filled academic year.

God bless you all!

The Most Rev. Oscar A. Solis

Bishop of Salt Lake City

Editor’s note: The Intermountain Catholic’s Back to School issue will be Sept. 8.