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schools of the Archdiocese of Denver as well as
practical suggestions on how schools can form dis-
ciples effectively so that our hope becomes reality.
It is time to embrace the mission of the Catholic
school ever more robustly. John Paul II issued a
prophetic call to the Church, recognizing the ur-
gent need for evangelization in our secular culture:
"I sense that the moment has come to commit all
of the Church's energies to a new evangelization"
(Redemptoris Missio, 3). This call clearly pertains
to our schools, which Pope Francis recognized as
sources of evangelization: "Catholic schools, which
always strive to join their work of education with
the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, are a most
valuable resource for the evangelization of culture,
even in those countries and cities where hostile
situations challenge us to greater creativity in our
search for suitable methods" (Evangelii Gaudium,
134). At this time in history and in response to the
Church's call, we, as Catholic educators, are tasked
with the formation of disciples as we share in fulfill
-
ing the mission Jesus has given us.
