“Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalm 96:1)

Welcome to the Franciscan Times, the new blog for The Educators College at Marian University.

The Educators College is part of Marian University, a Franciscan institution founded as a teachers college by the Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, Oldenburg Indiana. As a Franciscan institution, we are grounded by four values: 1) Dignity of the Individual, 2) Peace and Justice, 3) Responsible Stewardship, and 4) Reconciliation. How can our new “song” as educators across the country in all levels ensure that these values are witnessed daily?

We sing to the Lord a new song, but what will our new “song” be in this new year? What will be our new year’s resolution, our new purpose? Typically the year starts with great intentions, but few resolutions are ever realized. Too often we never have enough time to do the things that we really want to do. Ironically, we know that—God willing—we have 24 hours to accomplish our purpose every day, every week, every month. Time is our most abundant (and precious) resource, yet we never seem to have enough of it. How do we, as educators, use our time each day, each moment to living out this new song?

This month, we celebrate the feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American born saint and the foundress of Catholic schools in the United States. After becoming Catholic at age 30, Elizabeth devoted her time to starting schools and orphanages. Elizabeth Seton was only 46 when she died, but her brief 16-year impact is long remembered even to today. Catholic education is, perhaps, the greatest social experiment in modern times. Building on the work of Seton, many others followed. Through this effort of Catholic schooling, a poor, illiterate, immigrant population has become one of the highest income producing groups in the United States and one of the most impactful organizations worldwide (schools, universities, healthcare, ministries). All of this in just a few generations.

What will your song be in 2017? How will the Franciscan values illuminate this purpose, this mission? And, most importantly, how much time are we willing to invest in this mission? Never forget that our impact can bear much fruit and be timeless….

Kenith Britt, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President and Dean
The Educators College