Study Saturday: Catholic Church & School

Separation between Church and State… What’s that?

When I taught college, I didn’t lead my classes in prayer because we were in public schools. However, I did inform my students that I am a woman of faith, and I occasionally requested moments of silence out of respect for people or incidents that I believe deserved our attention.

My Ph.D. is from Our Lady of the Lake University, a Catholic school, so I’m grateful for my faith-based education. Before our classes, we would pray. Every year, we would have our Convocation at Church, where we would light candles to illuminate. After we passed our first year luminary exams, we earned these medals.

Our fourth year symbolized our candidacy, upon completing our final set of comprehensive exams.

Matthew 5:14-16

Bearing all of this in mind, I very much integrate my soul into my studies.

Spirit Mode = Scholar Mode

Recently, I reached my latest milestones as a Ph.D. Candidate who is ABD (All But Dissertation): the blessing of my Concept Proposal before the HOLYdays and the passing of my Proposal Defense this past Tuesday! GOD has surely blessed me on this journey, and as my classmate, Dr. Alex Garza, who graduated a year ago, told me: it’ll happen in GOD’s time.

Today, the LORD likewise blessed me in continued service to our Church: this time as commentator at Mass for the first time. After going through my proposal, I felt like my voice was cracking. Yet the LORD stayed by my side, and kept me going, and luckily, several congregation members commended me for speaking clearly.

Where am I going with this? I am going with GOD’s calling, which is to establish a Catholic school. The future generations of the Church deserve an opportunity to lead by their faith and values systems, even in their education. Honestly, I am uncertain of what will happen from here, but if I keep listening to GOD, He will lead me toward His plan.

GOD Bless Y’all!!! ¡Díos los bendigan!

Happy Birthday to Bishop Mike mañana!

By the way, my friend, Bishop Pfeifer has double-digits in his age this year, as well as my mom, the Birthday Girl, this Tuesday, and I also will in my next birthday!