It was an incredible honor to host Boston Archbishop Richard Henning for our monthly fellowship formation night on January 21st on the Feast of St. Agnes at St. Francis Church in Medford, MA.
Archbishop Henning concelebrated Mass with Fr. Timothy Hynes, Pastor, and Fr. Maxwell Chukwudiebere, Parochial Vicar, both of St. Francis and St. Joseph Parish in Medford, Massachusetts. Fr. Hynes serves as the Chaplain of the St. Thomas More Teaching Fellowship.
In his homily on St. Agnes, who was brutally martyred for her faith in front of a massive crowd at the age of 12 or 13 in 304 AD, Archbishop Henning focused on the power of a young girl who defied the Roman Empire and clung to her faith. From her sacrificial example that transcends hundreds of centuries, Archbishop Henning illustrated the difference between worldly power and the power of God. He said, "Sometimes our culture today can look like Ancient Rome. The world thinks power looks like weapons, money, influence, or politics to serve the self, to dominate, to control our lives and take advantage of others. Violence is celebrated. But the power of God is so different. We call God 'all powerful,' but He is never selfish, domineering, or exploitative. His power is love itself. He lives for others, giving us the possibility of new life and eternal life."
Concluding his homily, Archbishop Henning expressed: "I am so grateful to the ministry you exercise in the life of the Church, striving to guide the young and form them for life and to form them for eternal life...I am so grateful because you are true partners in the life of the Church in the Archdiocese of Boston."
After Mass, the Archbishop of Boston listened to and spoke with St. Thomas More Fellows and mentors. Speaking directly to our fellows, the Archbishop recognized the many cultural obstacles a Catholic educator faces in the classroom today. He encouraged the fellows to see that no matter the circumstances, God is always planting seeds, and that children are always longing for truth and for Christ. Reflecting on this human desire for truth and the need for witnesses to it, Archbishop Henning invited fellows to "pray for the Agneses of this world, because choosing God will cost them." He emphasized that students need teachers who don't just reveal truth, but also show them how to strive for eternal life and encounter the merciful love of God.
As part of the spiritual formation of St. Thomas More Fellows, fellows come together monthly for Adoration, Confession, Mass and a communal dinner with a Catholic speaker. Fellows also attend biweekly spiritual readings in small groups and also participate in two weekend spiritual retreats during the school year.
"This evening brings me to reflect on a very simple, three-word mission statement from a school I once worked at: 'We Teach Christ.' This is the mission for Catholic education as a whole. I recognize that for you all, this is already the mission statement in your heart. This is what you're living. Your teaching itself is a service of Jesus Christ and him crucified. I know that the children in your presence see that in you, and are drawn to the beauty of Christ. So again, I am grateful to you..."
— Remarks from Archbishop Richard Henning after dinner
Close to 90 fellows, mentors, and affiliates were present at our January formation night. After Mass, Archbishop Henning spent the evening engaging in conversations with individual fellows, and carefully listening to their stories from the classroom. He spoke with great confidence in our mission, and affirmation of our dedication to students across the Archdiocese.
"A word that I'd use to describe the evening as a whole is 'fullness.' There was fullness in the prayerful disposition of every fellow before Mass even began. There was a profound fullness in the Archbishop's homily. He took the time to truly engage us through stories of Saint Agnes and God's almightiness. The choir was angelic, aiding in the elevation of our prayers to the Lord. It was a Mass that reminded you how proud you are to be Catholic.
"I always look forward to our large-group events, because all of our fellows are driven, devoted to this program, and truly present to one another when we gather. With all of the prayer and time we've been investing in our classrooms and vocations this year, it was great not only to share our accomplishments with Archbishop Henning, but also to receive his embrace and acknowledgment of our efforts throughout the Archdiocese."
"The image I recall most clearly was when his Excellency compared his job - and the job of teaching - to the game of curling. He is like the player with the broom who scrapes away at the ice so that the stone can flow down the rink as smooth as possible.
"To paraphrase his words: Like the player with the stick, it's my job to 'scrape' away and get out of the way, so that the stone of grace can flow and do its thing. It's a simple message: Let Jesus do it."
"It was incredibly validating to hear Archbishop Henning speak on his experience in and out of the classroom, and reflect on the challenges of being a Catholic educator in the cultural climate of Boston. It's encouraging to know that the Archbishop understands the heart of Catholic education, and to be told to stay the course amidst the challenges we're up against. Something that has remained in my thoughts is that mission of \"We Teach Christ\" - that truly is my mission, and to hear that call reiterated by a leader who understands was so motivating."
"It was an honor and a pleasure to spend time with Archbishop Henning. During our conversation, I was impressed by the importance he gives to speaking the languages of the faithful in the Archdiocese (be it English, Spanish or Portuguese) to better know and serve his flock. He is a shepherd who smells like his sheep. It is a great comfort to know that the Fellowship counts with the support of his prayers just as we pray for him."