By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami

Archbishop Thomas Wenski marked Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 29-Feb. 4) by celebrating Mass Feb. 3 at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. The Marist Brothers who own and operate the school also are marking their 200th anniversary this year. (Related story here.)

The first reading from the Letter to the Hebrews began with these words: “Let brotherly love continue!” Today, I join with the students — present and past — as well as with all the teachers and staff to congratulate the Marist Brothers on the 200th anniversary of their founding by Marcellin Champagnat.

On Saturday, at a special Mass for the religious of the Archdiocese, I already congratulated Brother Kevin for his 60 years of religious life, 45 of them spent here at Columbus. Let’s hear it for Brother Kevin and for all the Marist brothers.

“Let brotherly love continue.” For 200 years, the Marist brothers have had as their mission “making Jesus Christ known and loved through the Christian education of young people.” And since this week we also celebrate Catholic Schools Week, it is good to remind ourselves this is precisely why Columbus High School exists — to make Jesus Christ known and loved through the education you receive here.

Catholic schools, like Columbus, are called to be communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service. The brothers and their collaborators sacrifice much and work hard to “educate” you in both faith and knowledge — in doing so, they are preparing you for service. The goal of a Catholic education is not just to help you do well for yourselves. Of course, as many alumni will tell you, their success was due to what they learned here at Columbus. Graduates of Columbus do “do well” — but, that’s not the only reason or even the main reason why the brothers are here — and why your parents sacrifice to send you here. You’re here not only to learn how to do well for yourselves but how to do good for others.

You know, other schools teach the test, in Catholic schools, and here at Columbus, the brothers teach the “yes.” The Marists — or as they were originally called the Little Brothers of Mary — have a particular devotion to the Blessed Mother. The Marists want their students to follow the example of Mary, the first disciple, who with complete freedom — for she was sinless — said “Yes” to God when he asked her collaboration in bringing to fulfillment his plan for the salvation of the world.

The goal of Catholic education — and what makes Catholic education “good news” — is the development of the whole man. And in pursuing this integral formation which aims to prepare students for life — both this life and the life to come — we are convinced that all human values find their fulfillment and unity in Christ. It is in Christ that the fullness of truth concerning man is to be found. This is why Marcellin Champagnat and his Marist brothers devote themselves to the education of young people. Simply, they want you to know and love Jesus Christ.

“Let brotherly love continue.” The brotherly love of the Marists does continue built on the pillars of “presence, simplicity, family spirit, love of work and in the way of Mary.” For 200 years they have been forming good Christians and good citizens and they’ve done it by loving the young people entrusted to their care and loving them equally.

We congratulate the brothers on their bicentennial. We thank God for them. And, if brotherly love is to continue, I invite you young men to consider whether or not God is calling you to dedicate your lives as a Marist brother making Jesus Christ known and loved through the Christian education of young people.

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Christopher Columbus High School is one of 12 schools in the United States where the Marist Brothers minister and 1 of the 7 that are owned and operated by the brothers. Columbus is one of the U.S. Marist schools with the greatest number of working brothers.