School starts this week! For the first time in as long as I can remember, Chicago Public Schools are starting the academic school year before Labor Day. This is done in concert with the Catholic School System which has had a similar schedule for many years. It means that the week ahead has a new beat, a new energy, and a new purpose for many of us in the parish and throughout the city.

Education is the primary ministry at Saint Andrew Parish. In recognition that children are often at the margins of society, the work of education is not merely to comply with government regulations nor a utilitarian task to maximize a child's potential net worth. We invest in education because it is an act of social justice. Yes, education empowers young people to participate fully in society but it also speaks to their indelible worth.

Before nation-states mandated education, the Church championed the mission that all life held inherent dignity and value. Proper education enabled the good within a child to blossom and magnify their talents more fully. As a solid education has become a bed rock of modern society, the Church has not abandoned its own mission to engage in education. The Church has merely shifted its emphasis by noting that secular education often misses somethings that can't be mandated by a school board - the intrinsic value of the human person, the capacity for love to overcome selfish-interest, and that divine purpose underscores the pursuit of truth.

As we begin a new school year, I invite all of us to say the prayer below propagated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. May we all cherish this vital ministry that is embraced so fully at Saint Andrew Parish.

"Blessed are you, Lord God, Creator of body and mind and heart; you have sent the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge to guide your people in all their ways. At the beginning of this new school year we ask for your grace upon us. Bless the students, teachers, and staff of our schools so that together we may grow in faith, hope, and love as we learn from you and each other how to follow your Son Jesus. Expand the horizons of our minds, that we may grow in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge; deepen our commitment to seek the truth of your ways; and enliven our faith to reach out to those in need. Glory and praise to you, Lord God, in the Church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen."

Get excited! The first day of school is quickly approaching. We will welcome students in grades 1-8 back on Tuesday, August 23, 2022. Early childhood and kindergarten students will begin on Wednesday, August 29, 2022. We can't wait!

We have limited seats still available for the 2022/23 School Year!

Please contact Anne Japsen in Admissions at annejapsen@gosaintandrew.com for more information. Come join us and experience what makes our Blue Ribbon School so special. www.gosaintandrew.com