Dear GrACE Apostles,

A steadfast supporter of school choice in the province, Alberta MLA Dan Williams champions parents’ rights to choose educational paths that reflect their values and children’s needs. Currently serving as Minister of Mental Health and Addiction and Deputy House Leader in the Alberta Legislative Assembly, he recognizes the invaluable role that publicly funded Catholic schools play in Alberta’s education system and their profound contribution to the common good.

In October 2024, Minister Williams joined over 210 GrACE participants for Alberta’s first combined Catholic Education Sunday and Catholic Education Week. At St. Luke’s Parish in Calgary, he joined participants in celebrating the Eucharist and participated in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. During this event, Minister Williams delivered a heartfelt and impromptu message that resonated deeply with those present.

He spoke passionately about Catholic schools as nurturing grounds for ethical leadership, community service, and academic excellence. He praised their inclusivity, noting how they welcome students of all faiths and backgrounds. Minister Williams commended GrACE participants for their courageous leadership in creating environments where students grow in faith, wisdom, and compassion.

Most importantly, Minister Williams emphasized the need for advocacy in securing Catholic education’s future. He encouraged all of us to engage local leaders, families, and communities to sustain public funding and ensure this mission continues to thrive. Participants at the event were deeply moved by his inspiring words, and many expressed their hope to see his continued involvement in future GrACE initiatives.

As we navigate the complexities of today’s world, let us remember that every effort—big or small—plays a vital role in supporting Catholic education. Each trustee, teacher, student, parent, parishioner, and advocate contributes to a movement rooted in Christ’s teachings, with our schools serving as beacons of light, hope, and transformation.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication to Catholic education and for the hope you bring to this mission each day!

Blessings and much love.

'Jesus, I trust in You'!

Kate

Executive Director | GrACE

"To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances,

to seek him the greatest adventure,

to find him the greatest human achievement."

(St. Augustine)

At St. Luke’s Parish in Calgary, the October 2024 GrACE Summit brought together over 200 Catholic education supporters (over 170 in-person and approximately 40 participants via Zoom) during our inaugural combined Catholic Education Sunday and Catholic Education Week. This event underscored the vital role of a strong Home-School-Parish connection in the lives of young Catholics. Having the Summit during Catholic Education Week marked a pivotal step forward in GrACE’s mission to foster a unified faith community for Catholics and their families.

Co-hosted by Calgary Catholic School District, the Summit highlighted that consistent faith messaging across home, school, and parish is essential to supporting students’ spiritual and moral development. By harmonizing spiritual teachings with community values, Catholic education offers children a steady support system, nurturing their academic, emotional, and spiritual growth.

This cohesive approach reinforces the importance of Catholic education in building a well-rounded foundation for young people in an increasingly complex world.

The October Summit offered space for attendees to share insights, experiences, and reflections on the impact of Catholic education. Key highlights included:

• Unity in Purpose: Archbishop Richard Smith emphasized the necessity of a unified approach to faith formation, where parents, educators, and clergy work in harmony to support young people. This collaboration strengthens the faith community and helps students navigate their spiritual journeys with confidence.
• Participant Testimonials: Educators, clergy, and parents shared impactful stories about the Home-School-Parish connection. One teacher observed, “When students witness a unified message of faith from their teachers, parents, and parish leaders, they feel supported in their beliefs and connected to their faith community.”
• Summit Reflections: Held in the warm setting of St. Luke’s Parish, the GrACE Summit gave parents, parishioners, clergy, and school leaders the opportunity to discuss the significance of a cohesive faith journey. Archbishop Smith encouraged attendees to view themselves as stewards of a shared mission, collectively guiding the youth in their faith.
• Experiences from Educators, Clergy, and Parents: Participants provided personal accounts of how unified efforts shape students’ faith. Stories from educators and clergy highlighted instances where students found deeper connections to their faith, underscoring the impact of a supportive Catholic community.

GrACE Summits continue to set a high standard for advocacy, fostering unity and engagement among stakeholders in Catholic education. These gatherings provide invaluable opportunities to reflect on and support the mission of publicly funded Catholic education, bringing together diverse voices from Alberta and beyond.

The GrACE October 2024 Summit Report, which will include evaluations and in-depth analysis, is expected to be completed by the end of December 2024.

I have reached out to update our current GrACE contacts throughout Alberta and beyond. Thank you for your cooperation in this process. As some GrACE groups are in transition due to trustee elections and staff changes, please notify me of any updates to keep our records current. Additionally, as trustees transition out, please obtain their personal email addresses so they can remain involved as community advocates and stay informed. Retiring trustees are invaluable to our advocacy efforts, and maintaining contact with them is essential.

In the meantime, I plan to share the December 2024 GrACE Newsletter platform with the Alberta, NWT and Yukon Bishops, ACSTA, and CCSSA so that, together, we can introduce our respective Board Members to you all, including new members.

GrACE cooperates closely with key partners, including the Catholic Bishops of Alberta, NWT, and Yukon, the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association (ACSTA), and the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA). This partnership approach reinforces Catholic education's presence, enhances its impact, and fosters a united effort to uphold the values and mission of Catholic education across the regions.

• Our Bishops provide our spiritual direction and support for our faith
• Our Trustees are the governors of our Catholic education system
• Our Superintendents are the administrators of our system

We meet

• as needed, if there is a crisis
• on an ongoing basis—through roundtable meetings— to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and changes that face Catholic education.

Our roles are unique yet complementary, based on the service we provide to the Catholic educational system. No one group represents the entire system; rather, we are one body in our Catholic education works and in Christ.

Collectively, we support each other to lead, even when it may feel uncomfortable to do so.

Intended to inspire and empower the next generation of advocates for Catholic education, GrACE is excited to announce a GrACE 2025 Youth Summit.

In these early days, GrACE offers a powerful platform for students and their guests to come together in celebration of Catholic education's unique contributions to the world of education and society at large.

The GrACE Youth Summit aims to:

• Engage Youth: Provide an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of Catholic education and their role in its future.
• Empower Advocates: Equip young people with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to become active voices for Catholic education in their communities.
• Foster Collaboration: Strengthen connections between students, parishes, schools, and Catholic educational leaders across Alberta and beyond.
• Inspire Action: Celebrate the values and mission of Catholic education, encouraging participants to champion its significance in their own lives and in society.

A Commitment to Catholic Education Advocacy

GrACE invites you to join in this day of celebration of Catholic education. By integrating the spiritual mission of the Church, GrACE’s 2025 Youth Summit will reflect a unified effort to secure the future of Catholic education in an ever-changing world.

Join Us in Shaping the Future

The GrACE Youth Summit will be a milestone event, celebrating the legacy of Catholic education while empowering its future stewards. We invite schools, parishes, and communities across Alberta to join us in this unique celebration of faith, learning, and advocacy. Together, we can ensure that the mission of Catholic education continues to inspire generations to come.

GrACE launched its new website to coincide with Alberta's inaugural Catholic Education Sunday and Catholic Education Week.

I extend my deepest gratitude to Archbishop Richard Smith and Dr. Bryan Szumlas for their pivotal roles and support in initiating this project. Special acknowledgment goes to Dr. Szumlas for his relentless drive and vision, to His Grace for his guidance, and to both Grant Gay and the entire GrACE Board for their invaluable insights and contributions. Additionally, a heartfelt thank you to Greg Verhappen for his technical expertise, which was essential in bringing this project to fruition.

Your feedback and contributions are immensely valuable and always appreciated as we continue to grow and improve this platform.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the website to stay connected and informed.

GrACE drives a Catholic education movement, championing and celebrating the distinctiveness of Catholic schools as they model and live the Catholic faith. We unite trustees, supporters, teachers, administrators, religious education consultants, parents, parishioners, bishops, and priests from Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon, all dedicated to ensuring Catholic education not only survives but thrives.

With one amplified voice, GrACE unites, engages, educates, and communicates to advance the mission of Catholic education. By including diverse perspectives from trustees to parish clergy, we deepen our collective commitment to this mission, creating a strong foundation for dialogue and strategic action.

GrACE fortifies the essential partnership between home, school, and parish, fostering a shared responsibility that strengthens Catholic education. Through ongoing prayer efforts, novenas, and resources like Catholic Education Week and Catholic Education Sunday initiatives, we support Catholics in prayerful dedication to this cause.

GrACE’s May 2024 Summit, co-hosted by the Edmonton Catholic School Division, emphasized open communication, family engagement, and the building of faith-driven Home-School-Parish partnerships. Attendees were encouraged to take on leadership roles, advocating fervently for Catholic education’s values and mission.

In his closing remarks on the day, Archbishop Smith reminded participants of their responsibility to advocate for Catholic education. Drawing from the teachings of Pope Francis and other faith leaders, he called on attendees to embrace their roles with conviction, promoting values that withstand societal shifts.

Through unity in prayer, commitment, and purpose, the Catholic community is urged to look to the future with hope, supported by the strength of their connected, faith-driven communities.

Following up on the momentum from the GrACE Summit in May, the Edmonton Catholic School Division recently organized another meaningful gathering at the Lumen Christi Catholic Education Centre in Edmonton. This event coincided with Alberta’s first-ever combined Catholic Education Sunday and Catholic Education Week, underscoring the province’s commitment to celebrating and supporting educational communities with a special focus on Catholic education.

Father Mark McGee and Father Avinash Francis, Pastor and Associate Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Edmonton respectively, played active roles in the day’s events, reinforcing the importance of a strong and reciprocal relationship between Catholic parishes and educational institutions. Their presence highlighted the shared mission of parishes and schools in nurturing students’ spiritual growth and supporting Catholic families.

To showcase the incredible faith, community spirit, and commitment of our schools, we launched our GrACE Video Clips Initiative several months ago.

This initiative aims to celebrate the vibrancy and mission of Catholic education across Alberta.

GrACE invites you to participate by sharing short video clips that highlight how your school or school jurisdiction embodies the values of Catholic education. These videos help demonstrate the unique role of Catholic schools in fostering faith, hope, and love in the lives of students, staff, and the wider community.

What to Include in Your GrACE Video Clips:

• Celebrations of faith-based activities, events, or initiatives.
• Student reflections or testimonies about the impact of Catholic education in their lives.
• Staff and leadership highlighting the integration of faith and learning in daily practices.
• Unique ways your school promotes Catholic values and serves the broader community.

By sharing your stories, you amplify the beauty and importance of Catholic education in Alberta. Let’s come together to showcase the faith and vibrancy that make our Catholic schools truly exceptional!

Please send your video clips to gracedirector7@gmail.com and join us in celebrating Catholic education. Together, let’s shine a light on the gift of Catholic education and the incredible work being done in our schools. Thank you for being part of this meaningful initiative!

GrACE is delighted to welcome Ms. Chantel Axani as the new Superintendent of Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, beginning November 2024.

With 18 years of dedicated service at Lakeland Catholic School Division, including her recent role as Deputy Superintendent, Ms. Axani brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to Catholic education. Her leadership, both in schools and through her work with the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta, reflects her passion for fostering faith-filled learning environments.

Known for her cooperative spirit and deep faith, Ms. Axani embodies the values of Catholic education in every aspect of her leadership. We look forward to seeing her inspire students, staff, and families at Holy Spirit Catholic School Division with her vision, dedication, and discipleship.

GrACE is thrilled to share that ACSTA has honoured our former Executive Director, Bonnie Annichiarico, with one of its highest awards for her lifelong dedication to Catholic education.

This well-deserved recognition highlights Bonnie's unwavering commitment, visionary leadership, and profound impact on Catholic education. Her tireless efforts have shaped countless lives, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Bonnie on this incredible achievement. The entire GrACE Board is proud and we join together in celebrating and thanking Bonnie for her remarkable service.

Congratulations, Bonnie—you are a true light in the mission of Catholic education!

GrACE warmly congratulates Amanda Gaudet and Arynn Abercrombie as the new Co-Chairs for the EICS Local GrACE Committee! Your enthusiasm and dedication to promoting authentic Catholicity in our schools are truly inspiring.

Thank you for stepping into this important leadership role.

Amanda and Arynn welcome Parents and Parishioners to their next Local GrACE Committee meeting scheduled for:

Date: Tuesday, January 14
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: OLPH Parish - St. Joan Room

Follow GrACE on Facebook and Twitter. Post your pictures and tag us so we can share them and celebrate too. Thanks for being a grateful advocate of Catholic education! @GrACE4cathed

GrACE

Facebook: www.facebook.com/GrACE4cathed

Email: gracedirector7@gmail.com

X (formerly Twitter): @GrACE4cathed

Instagram: @grace4catholiceducation

• Sign up for and share GrACE’s monthly newsletter
• Celebrate Catholic schools and Catholic education
• Provide information to share in GrACE’s monthly newsletter
• Tell your positive stories of your Catholic school(s) and Catholic education
• Subscribe to GrACE’s Facebook; Twitter (X), and social media pages
• Encourage parents to become more actively involved in GrACE
• Support local GrACE group in your parish
• Send updated contact information to ensure the GrACE database is current
• Encourage a sense of collective responsibility in upholding the mission and values of Catholic education in our shared society
• Make a stand for Catholic schools and Catholic education in Alberta and beyond
• Assert your choice in favour of Catholic schools/Catholic education and its values
• Champion the benefits of Catholic schools and Catholic education, alongside its broader implications for the spiritual, intellectual, and social development of individuals and society as a whole
• Be active in the GrACE movement
• Post your pictures and tag us so we can share them and celebrate too

Student volunteers are warmly invited to represent their school in GrACE’s

social media campaign, new outreach, and database development.

Thoughts on how we can better utilize technology platforms to ensure timely and effective communication within the wider Catholic education family and beyond will be gratefully received.

Please email gracedirector7@gmail.com to express interest and make suggestions.

• 'Instruction of the Congregation for Catholic Education, ‘The identity of the Catholic school for a culture of dialogue, from the Vatican, 2022
• Growing in Faith Symposium — 5 Marks of Catholic Education
• CCSSA Catholic Leadership Quality Standards
• 5 Marks of an Excellent Catholic Leader
• The Excellent Catholic Teacher
• Calgary Catholic Schools
• Redeemer Revelations

Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast with Archbishop Richard Smith that seeks to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith.