Archbishop to schools: Be sanctuaries of hope

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy urged Catholic schools to become sanctuaries of hope for struggling youth amid increase in cases of violence and bullying.

Uy challenged Catholic school leaders across the Philippines to look beyond grades and curricula and notice students whose struggles may be hidden in classrooms or online.

“A Catholic school cannot simply be a place where students are given education. It must be a place where every young person can find hope and experience being loved and cared for,” Uy said during his homily at the closing Mass of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) national convention.

Uy asked educators to ensure students who are anxious, lonely or bullied are seen before a crisis de-velops.

He pushed for stronger guidance counseling offices, teacher training to recognize warning signs, clear channels for reporting bullying or abuse, and listening rooms where students can speak without fear of judgment.

According to Uy, educators should weave Catholic identity into every subject rather than treat it as a label, adding that science classes, should teach respect for life and creation, while business and ac-counting courses should confront issues such as honesty and corruption.

Uy said teachers should challenge students to consider what each should do with the technology and what tasks should not be handed over to machines, as artificial intelligence (AI) enters classrooms.

At the same time, Uy reminded school leaders to care for teachers, saying burned-out educators can struggle to offer the steady presence and hope students need.

According to Uy, administrators should likewise examine whether their treatment of janitors, security guards, maintenance personnel and the poorest members reflects the faith their schools teach.

“Before asking how we can make our students more Catholic, we should also ask, ‘Can they see Christ in us? We cannot give what we do not possess,” Uy added.

Uy asked Catholic schools to support one another in what he described as a difficult season, likening them to a “constellation of hope” pointing young people toward faith, purpose and Jesus Christ.

More than 3,500 Catholic educators, school leaders and education stakeholders attended the CEAP convention in Cebu City from Sept. 22 to 25.

The association announced the reelection of Fr. Karel San Juan of the Ateneo de Davao University as CEAP president. — (FREEMAN)