Commitment to Catholic education carries into the archdiocese

Editor’s note: This article is featured in the magazine for the Installation Mass of Archbishop Michael G. McGovern.

Field trips to historic Catholic churches, exposure to religious art and artifacts, devotion to the rosary and the sacraments – all meant to instill in students a strong sense of Catholic identity. 

Those are some of the ways Archbishop Michael G. McGovern fostered Catholic education as a pastor and bishop. 

“Bishop McGovern always stressed the difference between public and Catholic education,” said Kathy Thompson, principal of the School of St. Mary in Lake Forest, Illinois, where he was pastor of the Church of St. Mary for 12 years. 

“We were not like the fine public schools surrounding us, or just a school next to a church,” she said, “We’re teaching a way of life. This may be the only shot these kids have to learn their faith.” 

She saw his commitment to teaching the faith as he personally took time to teach children the rosary and to prepare them for the sacraments. 

 “He wanted to make sure the sacraments were taken very seriously and (that students) understood their meaning,” Thompson said.  

Sarah Lanham, recently principal of Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo, Illinois, and now associate director of Catholic Schools for the Belleville, Illinois, diocese, also witnessed his commitment and active involvement while he served as bishop. 

“He is very devoted to Catholic education and wants to make sure that we have a strong Catholic identity in our schools,” she said. 

She also spoke of his caring and supportive leadership style, as he often asked about her family and personal well-being. “He always wanted to know how things were going in our world,” Lanham said. 

Archbishop McGovern said he now looks forward to serving the Omaha archdiocese. He introduced himself to staff and local media during a March 31 news conference at the archdiocese’s chancery in Omaha. 

“You have a great reputation as the local Church, when I think of all the activities, especially Catholic education, which is so strong here,” he said. “Education is, I think, one of the things the Church does best in our many ministries, and so, working with schools, working with young people … I’m looking forward to that.”