Schools tackle new realities
Archdiocesan panel off ers recommendations
By Sharon Abercrombie One apt description for many Catholic parochial schools in the City of San Francisco could very well be "destination schools " - schools where parents drop their children off in the early morning on their way to their jobs , and then pick them up late in the afternoon , or early evening for the family commute - across the Bay Bridge to El Cerrito or even Tracy. Their exhaustive routine existsbecause parents cannot afford to live in San Francisco even though they work there. On weekends these families stay home, instead of trekking back to the City to attend Mass. Or maybe they aren 't Catholic , but the parents have chosen to enroll their kids in a school close to where they work, points out Arlene Fife, principal of Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School in Daly City. Ms. rite is cochair of the So our challenge is to Strategec Planning Commission on ask ourselves how do Education we form tomorrows qppointed by Archbishop leaders for our Church? William J. Lcvada in 2001. A member of the commission coined the phrase "Destination schools, " during one of the commission 's meetings, recalls Msgr. Maurice McCormick commission cochair and pastor of Mission Dolores Parish , The phrase is a total contrast to the parochial school of 40 years ago, where every student lived in the neighborhood, walked to classes and on Sunday went with their parents to Mass at the parish church. Children from Mexico , the African American community, Guatemala, the Philippines, populate today 's destination schools. "Cultural diversity is one of the major changes in today 's society, " and as a result , the "whole nature of the educational game has changed, " said Msgr. McCormick. At Mission Dolores School , he said, "the whole world is here , and I love it. So our challenge is to ask ourselves how do we form tomorrow 's leaders for our Church? How do we get the message of the Gospel to many cultures?" Catholic San Francisco talked to Msgr. McCormick last Friday, the day that the Strategic Planning Commission 's 31-page report on the state of Archdiocesan schools was delive red to Archbishop William Levada. The report has been two years in the making, In November of 2001 the Archbishop created the 24-member advisory commission of educators and clergy to an alyze major problems and challen ges in Catholic schools and to design possible solutions with SCHOOLS, page 6
Right: Bishop-elect Wang leaves the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assist Above; the new bishop's miters. Below: Bishop fohn Wester and Archbishop William Levada with Bishop-elec t Wang at the Shrine
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Bishop-elect Wang prepaxes far ordonation Bishop-elect Ignatius Wang made his profession of
ed in the service, which was attended by scores of priests. Bishop-elect Wang's episcopal ordination will be faith and took his oath of fidelity to the Holy Father Jan. 20 celebrated in St. Mary's Cathedral at 10 a.m. on Jan. 30. dur ing SolemnVespersat the N ational Shrine of St. Francis The new bishop, who was bom in Beijing in of Assisi, where he served as pastor from 1982 to 1992. Archbishop William J. Levadapresided at the serv- 1934, is the first priest of Chinese heritage to become ice and blessed Bishop-elect Wang's episcopal insignia a member of the U.S. hierarchy. He is chancellor of whichwill be presentedto the new bishop at his ordina- the Archdiocese of San Francisco and head of the tion Mass. Auxiliary Bishop John Wester also participat- archdiocesan office of the Propagation of the faith.
PROCLAIMING
rw GOOD NEWS ,0 ALL CREATION
why celebratei Lessons from histoiy ~ Page 15 ~
Catholic Schools Week ~ A Special Insert Inside 1A-8A ~
National honors for veteran teachers
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Reasons for hope
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High school hi-lites
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Good Shepherd Sisters ' success story . . 10-1 1 S.F. Catholics join anti-war rally
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