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May 12, 2024During his pastoral visit to the two schools of the Vicariate in Dubai, St Mary's High School and St Mary's School Muhaisnah, Bp Paolo addressed the Sisters, the staff and the children. Here are some extracts of his speech and homily.
At St Mary's School, under the maternal protection of Mary, our Mother
Your school has the same name as the parish, Saint Mary’s. This means, you are under the maternal protection of Mary, mother of Jesus, Mother of God and our Mother.
The mother’s task or the parents’ task is to welcome their children and help them grow. The task of the school is to help the families to grow the children in knowledge and wisdom. In fact, to grow, it is not enough to have clothes and food. To grow you need to know the reality, know the truth, learn the wisdom and to use things with wisdom and respect, and to promote harmony between people and creatures.
Education, an act of hope and investment for the future
Today the educational challenge is fundamental for the future of society and the world. Educational act is an act of hope, it is a powerful investment for the future. When there is no hope, when there are no dreams, when there are no desires then we retreat to the present and close the horizon of life: we become individualists and selfish.
On the contrary, a society that is animated greatly by focusing on the future, invests in the education of its children because it firmly believes that we must all work together to build a more fraternal and human society, in which progress and moral values and spiritual values may never be divided. We need a unified vision of a person's life; we must promote a holistic education for our children.
This is why it is so important that technical-scientific knowledge is always accompanied by education in moral and spiritual values. Every parent does not just want to pass on food and clothes to their children, it is not enough to pass on technical and scientific notions. Parents who love their children want to convey to them the meaning of life, fundamental values, and respect for other people.
For this reason, true education of children must consider the importance of religion and reference to transcendent values. Every religion, in fact, takes care of the person's relationship with the merciful and most high God, of the good of all.
In a recent international conference on education in Abu Dhabi organized by the Muslim Council of Elders and the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity in collaboration with UNESCO and other international organizations highlighted that the interreligious education is particularly decisive for future generations. I am very happy that our schools are places where we can have positive experiences of coexistence and training between people of different nationalities, cultures, and religions. In this way we learn to respect and understand diversity and commit ourselves to building a more peaceful and fraternal future.
Seeking the truth, the meaning and sense of all things
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth. This expression touches on a very important topic of education: seeking the truth, seeking the meaning and sense of all things. We must cultivate within us the desire to find the truth in all things.
When someone tells us a lie and deceives us, we are not happy, we may be sad or angry. Why? Because we are made to know the truth and not to be deceived and be in error. You know how important it is in friendship not to deceive, neither yourself nor the other and to always tell the truth. Beware of fake news! There are some who want to deceive you. But don't give up on wanting to know the truth.
Now, what is the truth? For the Bible, truth is something more than a clear and distinct idea. Truth is not a concept but the foundation that supports life. The truth is the rock on which you can build your future. If you build your house on sand, then, when the rain or wind comes, everything will collapse. But if you build it on the rock, your house remains.
Jesus presents himself to us as the truth, that is, he is the rock on which you can build your future. Jesus gives you the Spirit of truth. That is, Jesus wants to be united with you forever and help you make your life a masterpiece. The Spirit of Truth unites us with Jesus and allows us to build the future on his friendship.
To the students
These years of school education are very important for you to acquire new knowledge, to learn to treat others as brothers and sisters and to grow in the wisdom that comes from the Most High and Merciful God. Your teachers will help you to be seekers of truth. We seek the truth together and never alone. This is why it is important to walk together and learn to be loyal friends. The school, your teachers and your parents will always be beside you. Above all, the Most High and Merciful God will never fail to give you his strength and wisdom.
Dear students, have many desires and many dreams in your heart. Your heart is eager to know the world. You are made for happiness, to love and be loved and to transform the world in a positive way. We are loved by God, and he never leaves us alone. Have the courage to hope and look to the future as a great possibility to create a more just and fraternal world.
As you all see, you come from different parts of the world, you come from different nations. In this school you get to know each other, respect, and love each other. Learn to love those who are different from you and together build a more fraternal world. God wants you all to be brothers and sisters even if you are from different cultures, nations and religions.
Dear students, you are not in the world by chance, you were born because you are loved by God. You are unique and unrepeatable. You are not copies of a series. Each of you is original and has a special mission to fulfill. Open your heart to Jesus, don't be afraid to listen to his voice that invites you to follow him and have great ideals. The Spirit of Truth will help you discover your mission.
I am sure that Jesus will call you to do great things: some of you will make discoveries that will improve the lives of humanity. Among you are the future teachers, future engineers, future architects, future doctors. I am sure that among you there are also future priests and future consecrated people, future missionaries who will bring the Gospel where Jesus is not yet known. I wish you to discover your vocation and your mission to be protagonists of a new world.
May Mother Mary, to whom our school is dedicated, always keep you close to Jesus, he is the rock, he is the faithful friend who will never leave you alone.
