What was the greatest value
you learned in Catholic school?

The following letters are in response to our “Raise Your Voice” request on the Reader’s Forum page of the Jan. 11 Voice: “What is the greatest value your received from your education in a Catholic school?”

Shaped values, nurtured faith

Next to my parents’ love, a Catholic school education from first grade through college was the greatest gift and strongest influence in my life.

It fostered my faith, shaped my values, guided my career choice, taught me the importance of social justice and caring about others. Together with the prayer and sacramental life it nurtured, it provided the bed rock of my spirituality and my relationship with Christ and cemented my life-long identity as a Catholic.

An added bonus was that a Catholic college was where I met my wife of 42 years. Truly it was the gift that keeps on giving.

Bob Norris
Via email

Faith-filled, life-long learner

Those were my father’s words as he and I sat and reminisced about the last nine years at St. Felicitas Catholic School. Since then, his words have repeated in my mind each and every day of my 8th grade year.

I now understand exactly what he was saying: the financial sacrifice that he and my mother made to send my sister and me to a Catholic school was more than worth it. Their sacrifice has allowed me to learn how to be a faith-filled, life-long learner.

From kindergarten through 8th grade, I learned that God created us in his image to serve one another. I learned that one “hello” could brighten my teacher’s day.

I learned that it didn’t matter if I made mistakes because God would always forgive me and that He would help me do better the next time.

I learned to think logically with sufficient reason. I learned to trust, forgive, and believe in my classmates.

I learned that Christ lives in each and every one of us. I’ve gained wisdom as I have realized the importance of being faithful to myself and to God.

Most importantly, I have learned how to be a good person, one who is spiritually centered and committed to life-long learning. Looking back, my dad was right. My Catholic education was indeed “worth it.”

Adrienne Rodriguez
8th-Grade Class President
St. Felicitas Catholic School
San Leandro

Given a moral compass

Having attended both public and private school, I think there is so much value to be gained in a Catholic education.

I first attended public school from kindergarten to Grade 4. I then attended St. Barnabas Elementary School in Alameda for Grades 5-8 before going on to St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, also in Alameda.

In my eight years of Catholic school, we not only experienced an excellent, comprehensive academic program, but we were constantly reminded of God’s abiding love and His plan for each individual. From this viewpoint, we were encouraged to do our best in all school activities and to ultimately use our skills to help others.

We were taught that even when things did not go as we planned, life has a way of working out in the long run if we follow the examples of Christ.

This Catholic teaching has held the greatest value for me over the years because it has always given me a sense of direction—like a moral compass—to keep me on track when making any decision.

This valuable lesson also gives me a sense of hope in a world that is often pessimistic. That hope has enabled me to face and overcome challenges while in college, in my teaching career, in my bout with breast cancer, and in raising a family.

Today, my 12-year-old daughter is in a local Catholic school because I want her to learn the same valuable teachings of hope and service.

Shirley Orille Brazis
San Leandro

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