EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S THANK YOU MESSAGE WFMP 2012

Thank you to all participants at “When Faith Meets Pedagogy 2012,Proclaim and Celebrate the Good News”.

We were truly blessed with the presence of over 1000 delegates as part of our faith community: we gathered, we proclaimed and we celebrated! We participated in over 60 workshops delivered by teachers, for teachers within a Catholic faith community setting.

Marina Nemat inspired us on Thursday evening as she recounted her compelling narrative as a young person imprisoned in Iran, surviving through her will, determination and faith. We thank Marina for her willingness to share so openly so that we may appreciate our many gifts. The response to Marina’s story was overwhelming; her message of hope, faith and courage is an encouragement, an inspiration to those who feel challenged in their own faith journey and at the same time an invitation to appreciate the many gifts that we receive and should not take for granted in this great home of Canada.

Thomas Cardinal Collins presided at the Celebration of the Eucharist on Friday morning and shared a powerful message of faith and the need to understand our faith, to see and to believe. It was inspiring to experience the ultimate celebration of our faith through The Eucharist as the Plaza Ballroom was filled to capacity.

Sr Maureen Sullivan built on the inspirational messages of the day and shared her vast experience as an educator confronted with a new generation of believers, whose faith foundation and formation may be so different than ours in the post Vatican II world. Sr Maureen challenged us as educators to reach out, to understand and to be the difference in the lives of the young people we teach.

When Faith Meets Pedagogy has a tradition of liturgies that gather and nourish the community and this year was exemplary as our choir, our concert band and our delegates participated fully in music and prayer throughout the conference.

Finally I wish to thank the WFMP Planning Committee, our member boards and partners, without whom the planning, preparation and delivery of the conference would be impossible.

We look forward to seeing you and new attendees in October 2013. God Bless.

Michael Bator
Executive Director
Catholic Curriculum Corporation