Keynote Speaker - Keynote Address
Founder of Homeboy Industries, the worlds largest gang intervention program in the world.
"Catholic Schools are not the places our kids go to. They are the place our kids go from - to change the world."
Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.
These are not just schools our kids go to they are the places they will eventually go from, so that they can live as though the truth were true and they can put first things recognizably first. They can take seriously what Jesus took seriously. He took four things seriously: Inclusion, Nonviolence, Unconditional compassionate loving kindness, and acceptance. This is huge. This is powerful.
Our catholic schools are not the places our kids go to, they are the places they go from. And they try to imitate the kind of god we have. The god who loves us without measure and without regret. We do not want them to settle for a partial god but for a spacious, expansive god.
2017 Religious Education
2017 Catholic School
Champion of Catholic Education - Special Honoree
Fr. Seamus Kerr
Lynn Stecker of St. Rose of Lima Parish shares, “Father Kerr's love and passion for Catholic education was instilled in him from a young age in his native Ireland. He faithfully prays for Catholic education and been a positive role model thoughout his 57 years as a priest in the Diocese of Yakima. He has been a champion of Catholic education working tirelessly to ensure all those who desire a Catholic education can receive one. His desire that children be exposed to the Catholic faith daily and to its value system so it can forever be a part of their lives has been a blessing to many.”
Executive Director - The Catholic Foundation Today
Kathleen Wilmes
We come together as supporters and believers in this outstanding legacy of Catholic education. Your financial gift will mean that the doors to our schools will open wider to invite families in that would not otherwise be able to afford a Catholic education. It will mean that parishes that face limited budgets will not have to take shortcuts as they work towards building an engaging ministry for their youth. It will mean that individuals willing to commit themselves to leading our children in learning about the faith will be properly prepared.
Let’s help our children learn to walk with the Lord as their guide. Let’s help them form their moral compass with Jesus and not with the world.
President of Kennedy Catholic High School - The Invitation
Mike Prato
When I was asked to speak, I went to the Central Washington Catholic Foundation website to do some research and immediately saw the very words from Proverbs that should prompt us all to action: Train up a child in the way he should go and even when he is old, he will not depart from it. I love this verse because so much is riding on our influence and those teaching our children in and out of the classroom.
There are amazing stories in this room; some spectacular and life changing. You must connect your experiences with the financial support necessary to eliminate the what if’s, the fear of the bottom line and give generously, beyond what you planned . . . the future of the Church in Central Washington is in your hands. Join me in honoring those who have had an impact on your spiritual formation.
Thank You To Our Partners!
