Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug 22, 2005 / 22:00 pm
As students get ready to head back to the classroom, Catholic school teachers in Grand Rapids, Michigan are getting their own pep rally to kick off the year.
Some 600 Catholic educators and clergy joined Bishop Walter Hurley at Grand Rapid’s Blessed Sacrament church yesterday for a special Mass and celebration aimed at firing up educators in the diocese’ 45 schools.
The annual event brings together Catholic teachers from around western Michigan for a chance to network and get energized for the new school year.
James O’Donnell, superintendent of the diocese’ Catholic schools said that because of the size of the diocese, teachers don’t get to gather like this very often. He told the Grand Rapids Press that he sees it “as a good opportunity for them to be around each other, and for some professional development as well."