My heart aches for the children, parents, and families of Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. No family should ever have to experience such fear and heartbreak. Please know that you are not alone. I hold you close in prayer, and the Church stands with you in this time of sorrow. We entrust those who have died to the loving mercy of Jesus Christ. May He embrace the grieving families and bring comfort to all who are suffering.

Would we call a Spanish-language immersion school successful if its graduates could barely understand Spanish? We should take the mission of our Catholic schools just as seriously. Academic excellence matters. So does forming students who know Jesus Christ and can understand, articulate and live the faith. Therefore, I am calling for a significant and genuine renewal of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Portland, beginning in our Catholic elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools and eventually extending to the religious education and faith formation programs in our parishes. I am calling for a renewal of what we call “Mission Passionate Catholic Education. Read more: archdpdx.org/news/go-therefo…