Alliance for Catholic Education
I love talking to undergraduate students about ACE and inviting them to consider the ACE Teaching Fellows opportunity after graduation. I was talking to a student recently, and she had a big question that tells us something about what ACE is about and what it calls upon teachers to do. It was a simple question that Mary asked: "Does an ACE teacher get to visit the school they will teach in before they make a commitment?"
I love ACE!
I love that we are celebrating 20 years of the Alliance for Catholic Education by the bus tour! It is a wonderful opportunity to witness how the vision of Fathers Tim Scully and Sean McGraw has been put into action to support and sustain Catholic schools. This work has sent thousands of young men and women to go forth and make God known, loved and served in under-resourced Catholic schools throughout the United States.
When I think of how ACE began and how Catholic school leaders were asked to take a big leap of faith to collaborate with Notre Dame on this idea, I believe that ACE is the work of the Holy Spirit.
I love talking to undergraduate students about ACE and inviting them to consider the ACE Teaching Fellows opportunity after graduation. I was talking to a student recently, and she had a big question that tells us something about what ACE is about and what it calls upon teachers to do. It was a simple question that Mary asked: "Does an ACE teacher get to visit the school they will teach in before they make a commitment?"
This question reflected the first challenge that a new teacher faces. They do not get to choose the city or the school where they will teach. They are sent forth to teach where there is a need. And that is only the beginning of the many conversions that occur. They do not get to choose the people they will be living in community with, either. They do not choose their principals, faculty members, or students.
It is difficult to not choose. It takes faith to say "yes" to this invitation. But when I reflect on ACE, from the very beginning 20 years ago to today, this experience is very similar to every invitation Jesus gave men and women to come and follow him. Jesus called Peter and Andrew and James and John to follow him. He told the rich young man to "sell what he had and give it to the poor and come follow him." Jesus calls everyone to come and follow him. This is the vision, inspired by the Holy Spirit, which Fathers Tim and Sean had.
Mary, the student who asked the first question, asked another one: "What is the end result of all of these little conversions?"
My response is that Mary and everyone who says yes to ACE get to follow Christ, learn how to love unconditionally and change the world one student at a time. I think that is pretty great.