SAN DIEGO — Almost 1,200 local Catholic school educators attended the diocesan Office for Schools’ annual Religion Convocation.
This year’s event, which was held Aug. 7 at Cathedral Catholic High School, was historic.
“For the very first time in our history, high schools joined us for this special event to kick off the new school year,” said Leticia Oseguera, diocesan superintendent of schools.
Teachers and principals from 43 Catholic elementary schools were joined by their counterparts at five Catholic high schools.
“It’s exciting to have all Catholic school educators together to celebrate the start of the new school year,” said Oseguera. “We are all united in our faith, in our calling to Catholic education and our commitment to our Catholic schools.”
This year’s convocation theme was “Educating Is an Act of Love,” a quote from Pope Francis.
The keynote address was given by Jesuit Father Greg Boyle, founder and director of Homeboy Industries, a Los Angeles-based gang intervention and reintegration program.
Later, Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano celebrated a Mass with one of Cathedral Catholic’s chaplains, Father Paul de Soza.
In her welcoming remarks at the convocation, Oseguera expressed gratitude “for everyone that works in our Catholic schools.”
To those in attendance, she said, “All of you give of yourselves selflessly, you walk alongside your students and your colleagues, you meet students where they’re at, you care for them and support them on their spiritual and academic journey. … By choosing to work in our Catholic schools, you are making a difference in the lives of our students every single day.”
“You make a difference in your classrooms, in your schools and in your school communities,” she said. “I see you, I value you, and I salute you.”
