January 25, 2026

Happy Catholic Schools Week! We have
plenty to be proud of here at Saint George. Our school, under the leadership of
Mrs. Charlotte Pratl, is a beacon of faith to our whole community. Our faculty and staff work very hard to make sure the Gospel message is heard, knowledge is offered and curiosity is encouraged. The first Catholic School was founded in the United States by Saint Elizabeth Seton. As a convert to Catholicism, she was shunned by her family and struggled to raise her children alone after her husband died. Her work has continued for over 200 years.

I am so grateful for the loving support our parishioners have for our school. The days of the dollar a month tuition are gone with the horse and buggy. Today’s reality demands just salaries (we are working on that one), proper benefits and pensions. That drives up costs significantly. Still our teachers are working in Catholic schools because they are dedicated and willing to work for less than their public school counterparts. Our parents make sacrifices so their children can come to Saint George. They do service hours and help with fundraising, especially Friday
night bingo.

Ultimately, the reason we have a school at Saint George is to pass on the faith to our young people. They need a spiritual foundation, as we all do. By offering a Catholic education, the Gospel is shared and we help create new disciples of Jesus. This can only happen in cooperation with dedicated parents. Nothing we say in the classroom (or pulpit for that matter) can have any effect without the supportive work of parents. Key to this are things like: regular attendance at Mass; prayers before meals; developing a respect for the teachings of Jesus; helping children to look at the world through the prism of faith.

Please stop by the school. See the exciting and good work happening in every classroom. I encourage everyone, whether you have a child in our school or not, to stop by. You will be pleased with what you see!

Last Saturday, we presented “Put the Nuns in Charge” by Vicki Quade, a wonderful, warm, faithful comedy reminding us of our Catholic Values. Aside from her talent, Vicki is a delightful woman with a strong affection for the Church and the good sisters who taught so many of us. We had a full house of over 300 people enjoying each other’s company and plenty of good laughs. Thanks to Renee Beemsterboer and her team who made it happen.