National Teacher Appreciation Week is a time in which we lift up with thanks the talents, the selflessness, and the dedication of our teachers. It is an annual commemoration that has surely never been more deserving than this year. Since August, our Catholic school teachers have made sacrifices, worked long hours, and championed creativity to offer in-person education and provide a sense of normalcy and consistency for our families in an uncertain time. They have gone the extra mile generously, motivated by the call that is at the heart of their mission: to guide our young people to love learning, embrace faith, and care for those in need. During a pandemic, our teachers ensured that our school communities remained places where the truth of life and faith come together and, with patience and wisdom, continued to encourage our children’s capacity to achieve. It is no surprise that these wonderful educators met this moment with determination, but our gratitude is still bountiful and our appreciation deep. Thank you for fulfilling the great responsibility of forming our young people, for filling our classrooms with energy and enthusiasm, and for inspiring hope in our families, our communities and our Church. We entrust the good work of teachers to Jesus, our Divine Teacher. May their contributions open students to the beauty of God’s creation, their connection with it, and their connection with one another.