Catholic teachers are prophetic voices for students

Intermountain Catholic

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Christian Brother Robert Bimonte raises his arms in a gesture of benediction as he implores Catholic school teachers to be prophets for their students, teaching as Jesus taught. IC photo by Barbara S. Lee

DRAPER — If Catholic educators are not rigid they don’t stand for anything, Christian Brother Robert R. Bimonte, executive director of the Elementary Department of the National Catholic Educational Association said in a keynote speech opening the Professional Educator Day for the Diocese of Salt Lake City Sept. 22 at the Skaggs Catholic Center. The theme of the day, "Catholic Schools: The Good News in Education," was an uplifting one for the more than 300 teachers and principals from the diocesan schools who attended.

Before assuming his current post at the NCEA, Brother Robert served as secretary of Catholic education in the Diocese of Buffalo, N.Y., overseeing both Catholic schools and religious education for that diocese. He also has worded as a consultant and facilitator for schools, dioceses, and religious communities throughout the country.

Brother Robert also has served as director of education for the National Conference of Christian Brothers and as assistant superintendent for curriculum and staff development for the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y. He has been a teacher and administrator on both the elementary and high school levels and holds graduate degrees in education, psychology, and theology.

Brother Robert has conducted retreats and workshops on a wide variety of topics, including collaborative learning, the power of myth, transformational leadership, and brain-compatible learning. The Hewlett/Packard Foundation has recognized his work in brain-compatable learning.

"The question becomes what is the point of your rigidity?" Brother Robert said.

As Catholic school teachers, you not only care for the soul of the institutions for which you teach, he said, "you care for the souls of the students. This is a calling we receive with eternal certitude. It involves using your prophetic voices to reinforce the reign of God and his call for justice."

This is not about you, he told the educators. "It cannot be about you. It is of God, and God’s will is simple. We all will be one."

Brother Robert spoke of the Home Box Office (HBO) presentation of Tony Kushner’s "Angels in America," a nine-act, seven hour epic drama directed by Mike Nichols. The central character is a young man, Prior Walter, who is suffering from AIDS. Prior is visited by an angel and told he is to be the prophet of the new millennium. The production’s many plots involve Prior’s struggles with the 1980s age of greed, and the tapestry of denial Prior faces as he tries to bring God’s message to the people.

According to the script, God abandoned the world in 1907, "and he is not coming back until we get it right," said Brother Robert. "One of the hallmarks of ‘Angels in America’ is that Prior’s mission is our last chance to return to a life of love.

"The play ends with Prior in a pose of benediction, charging us to bring the world back to God."

Brother Robert asked: "Who will be the prophets of our time? In the Old Testament, we had the Prophets Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekial. They prophesied to the people. Some listened to them and others didn’t. Who will prophesy to the people now if not you?"

The Prophet Amos was out of step for his time, Brother Robert said. "He told people they should be caring for the poor. No one listened to Amos. They said their God was Yahweh and he didn’t tell them to care for the poor. Yehweh was their excuse for oppressing the poor. Imagine that.

"If Amos returned today, what would he see in 2006? He would see slave labor. We need Amos today to prophesy about the evil of exploiting women and children. But we don’t have Amos. Who will speak for the women and children if not you in your schools?"

Of the Prophet Isaiah, Brother Robert said, "he prophesied in a time of progress, blessings, riches, and a healthy economy. Isaiah spoke about sin and violence that was pervading society. Some listened to Isaiah, most did not. Who is proclaiming Isaiah’s vision of peace in your school?"

The educators were challenged by Brother Robert to stop talking about the law and religion and begin living it with hearts of flesh and love.

"Who will proclaim and live the messages of Jeremiah and Ezekial? Ezekial told people of his dreams of Yahweh’s glory," he said. "People in Ezekial’s time lived in slavery. All of God’s children had been sent into exile. Who is proclaiming the message of equality in our schools? All of the prophets are gone."

Brother Robert said, "Only you and me, who are anointed at our baptism are called to rescue justice in a world gone bad. So I ask again, what do you stand for?"

The speaker said students in Catholic schools today are faced with a constant battle in which might seems to equal right, and violence is portrayed as an acceptable solution to minor problems.

"This is not the Gospel we believe in," he said. "Our Gospel says the last be become first, and it tells us to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us. Our Gospel says, ‘blessed are the poor, the meek, the peacemakers.

"Catholic educators stand for the reign of God; you stand with the poor and the powerless. You educate and care for every young person who comes to you."

It is our time now, Brother Robert said. "God has assigned us responsibilities for our time. We can either wring our hands or choose to be prophets. The events of recent history are abundantly clear. It is the task of Catholic school educators and religious education teachers – you and me – to be the prophets of our time. Like Ezekial, God is sending and each of you and me as prophets to save the world.

"For the sake of the Word," he said, "be the prophets of our time. Carry out the mission. Your great work begins today. Be rigid in the right way."

At a Mass following the keynote speech, Diocesan Administrator Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald also spoke on responsibilities of Catholic school teachers to use their prophetic voices in speaking on behalf of their students, their families, and others in need. He told the educators they have a role in forming the next Catholic generation that will lead the world in feeding the poor, caring for the homeless, and speaking out for the voiceless.

Msgr. Fitzgerald was joined on the altar of St. John the Baptist Church by Father Terence M. Moore, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Msgr. Rudolph Daz, pastor of St. Olaf Parish and administrator of St. Olaf School, and Father John Norman of Juan Diego Catholic High School.

For a full text of Msgr. Fitzgerald’s homily, see page nine.

Professional Educator Day offered workshops on both elementary and secondary levels.