Sister Mary André Thelen, OP, principal of St. Jude School in Peoria, says the theological virtue of hope orders all of our earthly hopes. (The Catholic Post Online/Paul Thomas Moore)

This is the second in a series of posts on the subject of encouraging hope in our Catholic schools.

In the first article “School leaders refresh vocations as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ at Sacré-Coeur” (Oct. 28), Kelly McLaughlin, principal of Jordan Catholic School in Rock Island, described the Catholic school “difference.”

She said this comes into clearer focus during times of tragedy or crisis (e.g., a medical emergency, a death involving a student or teacher, or a fire or weather incident), when the community comes together in faith.

In this installment, Sister Mary André Thelen, OP, principal of St. Jude School in Peoria, comments on the components of hope in the school setting.

She referenced a talk given by Father Thomas Dunton, CSJ, who spoke at the Diocesan school principals and administrators retreat Oct. 23-24 at Sacré-Coeur Retreat Center in Magnolia.

CAPITAL “H” HOPE ORDERS LITTLE ONES

Sister Thelen took away from Father Dunton’s talk the spiritual nugget that “Capital ‘H’ hope … the theological virtue of hope, is bigger than all the little hopes.”

She added that students hope for many things from their Catholic schools: good sports, good academics and a good friendships, and that the virtue of hope “orders all of those things.”

“We have so many priorities on our plates. But if we’re keeping in mind the end goal, the mission, then hopefully all of those little hopes are tied together into the one big one,” she said.

Editor’s note: Stay tuned for more in future from Peoria diocesan principals observing how their school environments foster hope in an often challenging societal context – and how they are personally inspired by the mission of Catholic schools.