HCH photo/Anna Weaver
Educators marking 20, 30 and 40 years of service in Hawaii Catholic Schools pray the Our Father during the annual Annual Catholic Conference for Educators Mass, Feb. 5, at Koolau Ballroom.
Catholic school educators praised, encouraged at annual conference
By Anna Weaver | Hawaii Catholic Herald
Creative congratulations, a call for further evangelization, and a hot topic discussion of cyberbullying converged this year at Oahu’s Annual Catholic Conference for Educators.
Catholic school students got a day off as their teachers and administrators gathered Feb. 5 at the Koolau Ballrooms in Kaneohe. The yearly event includes a Mass with the bishop, honoring of educators who have worked for Hawaii Catholic Schools 20, 30 and 40 years, and an educational talk by a guest speaker.
Bishop Larry Silva, in his homily to a full ballroom, emphasized that Catholic educators not only should “offer an education of high quality” but also give students “the opportunity to know the Lord even more intimately than David,” a reference to one of the day’s readings.
“We want our students to be successful,” the bishop said, but added that teachers should use their “freely-given gifts” to teach their students that through “the gift of the risen Jesus himself present in word and sacrament” they can be compassionate and loving.
“That is why it is so important that we begin this day with a celebration of the Eucharist,” he said.
One of the annual highlights of the Mass came toward the end when veteran Catholic educators were brought up on the ballroom stage to greet Bishop Silva and Catholic Schools superintendent Carmen Himenes, receive a plaque and have their picture taken.
Some awardees were cheered on by their fellow teachers with noise-makers, shouts, banners, Elvis signs, and in the case of Himenes, who was receiving her 20 year award, a standing ovation from the entire crowd with musical accompaniment.
After the awards and general thank you’s by Himenes, Bishop Silva expressed his own continued appreciation for the gathered educators saying, “I know you are very, very dedicated people … And you make a great deal of difference in the lives of many people.”
Following a refreshment break, attendees returned to the ballroom to hear Sameer Hinduja, a university professor, author and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, speak on “Cyberbullying and Safe Social Networking.”