March 31, 2010
Dear Principal and Pastor:
As I prepare my homilies this Holy Week, I was struck this year about how both today’s Gospel from St. Matthew and the Holy Thursday evening liturgy of the Lord’s Supper are framed by the people who betray Jesus -- Judas and Peter. In tomorrow’s Gospel, John begins with words pregnant with meaning: “Before the Passover meal….” What then follows will be the betrayal of Judas and then the betray of Peter. The only difference between Judas and Peter is that Judas despairs while Peter repents.
The same can be true for me and for you. Betrayals can take many forms, be that in the context of our family at home or our family of faith in the Church. With regards to the Church, if you are like me, you have noticed many articles in the press about sexual abuse scandals in Europe and their splash-back here in the United States. I am keenly aware that in your responsibility for our Catholic schools, such stories about the abuse of our young people can be particularly difficult given the fact that three-fourth of all abuse takes place in the context of families both immediate and extended. I found the following articles helpful in providing some background and perspective on what we are hearing in the media. I am passing them on for your consideration and review.
Again, I thank you for all you do for our young people in all of our Catholic schools across the Seattle Archdiocese. I thank you for your work with their parents too, as well as the wider network of parishioners and benefactors that make our ministry of Catholic education possible. May God bless you during this Triduum.
With every best wish and blessing,
Yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph J. Tyson
Auxiliary Bishop
Superintendent of Catholic Schools
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