Blessed Sacrament School principal Reine Sader Mykyte attended the Vatican’s Jubilee of Education this past fall, joining Catholic educators, students, and leaders from around the world. She shares her reflections on faith, vocation, and the joy of teaching.
As Catholic Schools Week is celebrated across Vancouver, and as we prepare for next week’s Catholic Educators’ Conference, I find myself reflecting on the global mission of Catholic education and its daily witness in our local classrooms.
Beyond the joy of tasty Italian pasta and gelato, attending the Vatican’s Jubilee of Education this past fall was an extraordinary blessing. For me, it was a “leap of faith” — a time of development and retreat where I carried the prayers of our school community, friends, and family. To be surrounded by educational leaders and students from around the world, united in our shared mission to form hearts and minds in the Catholic faith, was profoundly moving.
In his audience with students, Pope Leo XIV encouraged them to be peacemakers and truth-seekers. He offered a powerful reminder for our digital age: do not rely on “algorithms” to define your purpose. Instead, seek meaning in true beauty and real-life love. My key takeaway from the Holy Father’s message was that “education is an act of hope.” I was especially struck by his use of the word esperanza, which, like the French espérance, speaks not only to optimism, but to a deep, unshakeable trust in God’s promise.
As highlighted in a recent CISVA blog, the spirit driving our modern schools is the same heart of faith that built the first wooden schoolhouses. This legacy provides the hope necessary to form today’s learners and the love that transforms every act of teaching into a “work of grace.” That enduring heart will be on display again next week when we gather for the annual Catholic Educators’ Conference under the theme “Proclaiming Our Faith.” There, we will address the demands facing schools today with faith, reason, and a commitment to human dignity.
I am deeply thankful for the dedicated colleagues and teachers I serve alongside each day. Their vital role was beautifully affirmed in the Holy Father’s recent apostolic letter signed at the Jubilee, where he described teachers as the “pillars of our schools.” He reminded us that an educator’s witness is worth as much as the lessons themselves. When joy and compassion guide our work, wisdom and knowledge naturally flourish. Teaching, after all, is far more than instruction; it is a vocation where we share in God’s work — a calling that helps students grow not only in what they know, but in who they are becoming as citizens of the world and disciples of Christ.
I am equally grateful for our families who choose Catholic education because they believe in this mission. Together, we are witnesses to faith in action, building a community where the dignity of every person is celebrated. As we continue this school year, may we remain faithful to our call to live, celebrate, and proclaim our faith. May our community continue to radiate hope, building an “atrium” where learning and faith meet, and where joy leads us closer to God. Let us ask Saint John Henry Newman, recently added to the General Roman Calendar as Doctor of Education, to pray for us.
En remerciement à Dieu notre Père pour cette expérience exceptionnelle.
With gratitude and a heart full of hope and commitment,
Reine Sader Mykyte
Principal, École Saint-Sacrement / Blessed Sacrament School
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