"There are only really two days that we formally gather as a school division—Opening Mass and Spiritual Development Day," said Mr. Aaron Skretting, Holy Spirit's Director of Religious Education. "These occasions are significant in our relationship with one another as a faith community and it is important that we have these times together."
Superintendent Ms. Chantel Axani echoed the importance of the day, stating, "Our divisional Spiritual Development Day offers an opportunity for our staff to reflect on their journeys as pilgrims of hope. It has been thoughtfully designed to inspire and uplift everyone, and I sincerely hope that it served as a time of renewal."
"It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to come and speak," said Fr. Troy. "I love talking to schools and, as both a priest and former teacher, I see the vital role Catholic Education plays in shaping young minds and hearts."
The day also featured two powerful speakers: Dr. Troy Davies, CEO of Catholic Social Services, and Dr. Matt Hoven, Author, Associate Professor, and Kule Chair of Catholic Religious Education at St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta. Dr. Davies explored faith through imagery in ‘A Pilgrimage of Hope in Four Images’, stating, "My discussion revolves around the fact that we’re all on a pilgrimage that leads us back to the Father." Meanwhile, Dr. Hoven, in his talk ‘Capturing the Fleeting Idealism of Our Youth’, shared, “I'll be focusing on sources of hope that we can find within our schools as well as in our faith to be more hopeful people."
"I was very excited to share in my first Spiritual Development Day," she shared. "From the moment I joined this division, I was genuinely moved by the profound commitment to our faith that I observed among my colleagues and it is clear that our faith serves as the fundamental cornerstone of our work at Holy Spirit."
While Spiritual Development Day is a chance to grow in faith, its greatest impact lies in bringing us together as a Catholic community.
"When we come together as a faith community, we are proclaiming our faith to one another and taking stock of where we are at now and what the next steps are - which is really what one does in pilgrimage," said Mr. Skretting.