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How alive the convention hall became as we listened to her speak! How perfectly her speech reflected the theme of the National Catholic Educational Convention - Anchor of Faith, Harbor of Light! She entered from the rear of the large auditorium, dressed in the uniform of a midshipwoman of the U.S. Navy. She led us in singing a very special version of "Anchors Aweigh" and "From the Halls of Montezuma". Of course, the Navy and Marines might never have recognized the songs with their appropriately adapted wording. Arriving at the podium, Clare Fitzgerald, SSND, began to surmise what the Captain of the ship might have written about the Catholic schools in 1874 at the conclusion of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore. Stopping at various points in history, Clare painted a vignette of the mission of Catholic education as time progressed. She stressed the fresh approach, the gospel-centered vision, the commitment which demanded that we trust and dare. She then challenged us with the need to reimage, reimagine, and recreate for the mission. In Clare's words, "We educate the students to take off their shoes" by calling them to see God at work in all of life. Clare referred to Father Di Giacomo's statement to parents, "We are going to give your children an alternative view of reality." Clare challenged all to be outraged by the disparity between rich and poor, the evils of the war, the trafficking of women, and the death of innocents in Darfur. "Why?", she asked, "are our young people not outraged about something?" What is it that brings each of us to the point of being outraged? She posited the theory that we are threatened by the Resurrection. We find it very comfortable sitting in the dark in an empty tomb with a stone rolled across the entrance to the tomb. Nothing challenges us there. We can be content with the status quo. There are no expectations of us so we continue to walk in the dark. We do not want to step out of the boat to approach the risen Jesus because our boat environment is safe and secure. If we roll away the stone; if we get out of the boat, we will discover new and meaningful ways to bring the mission of Jesus to our young people today. Will we call them to be saints; call them to be holy? Clare asked us to consider whether we preferred to be "Pall-bearers of the past or midwives of the future". What will the Captain write of our time period? Clare exited leading us in singing again our special versions of "Anchors Aweigh" and "From the Halls of Montezuma". We, School Sisters of Notre Dame, can truly be proud of the vision, energy, dynamism, and enthusiasm of this great educator. The country recognizes her leadership in education. Last fall, she was awarded the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, the highest educational award presented by NCEA. Her presentation is on DVD. Copies are available through NCEA at www.ncea.org.
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