Get down to the root of the problem . . .

I heard about an incident involving my children's former school.  On the night of the annual Christmas program, the children who were waiting for the end of the program and the big Nativity scene were assembled in the Sacristy of the church.  Since the program was taking place in the church, Christ had been removed from the Tabernacle and was in the Sacristy, in the safe where the cahlices are kept, with a Perpetual Light burning in front of Him.

You know kids - it was the last day of school before the Christmas (!) holiday, and spirits were high.  So high, in fact, that some horseplay knocked over the Perpetual Light's stand and oil was split upon a chasible that was hanging nearby.  Oops.

Was there an adult with them?  Yes, a school employee.  Now, if I was still at the school, here would be my concern:  did she not realize Who was present there in the Sacristy?  And, even if she did, wat kind of religious training are the children receiving such that they don't realize the same?

I am not trying to beat down my kids' former school, but I think Those In Charge should really stop and consider those two questions.  I make the sacrifice to pay tuition so my children can receive an education in a Catholic school - not a private school, but a religious one of a particular faith.  I take responsibility for ensuring their Cathlic upbringing, and while I realize that catechization begins in the home, I am also entrusting that to their school. 

I would expect the employees of the school to be practicing  Catholics (I have never seen this particular employee at any school Mass and so far as I know, the school does not require its employees to show proof of their registration at a Catholic parish, which I think should be a requirement) in  a Catholic school.  I would expect an employee to recognize why there is a light burning before the safe in the Sacristry and instruct the children to sit down and be reverent - and yes, my dear, you have to do it several times rather than once and go sit outside in the church to watch the program, because they are children and, by their very nature, immature.  I do not mean that perjoratively, but it is a fact of life.

Maybe it is time for some re-education of the adults . . .