News Release
November 1, 2007
For Immediate Release
7,000 Catholic school board staff to gather in celebration of
Catholic faith at board-wide Faith Day
Theme of the day is Celebrating the Human Face of God
On Wednesday, November 7, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s 88,000 students get the day off school. Likewise, it will not be an ordinary day for an estimated 7,000 board faculty and staff, who will gather together at the International Centre with Archbishop Thomas Collins, Bishop Stephen Chmilar, Auxiliary Bishop John Boissonneau, Father Terry Lozynsky, and 30 priests from parishes across the board, for a day-long celebration of the Catholic faith, as part of the board’s Faith Day. The theme of the day is, Celebrating the Human Face of God.
Faith Day is the culmination of more than a year of planning, explained John Kostoff, Dufferin-Peel Director of Education. “We see it as imperative that, as a Catholic educational community, we gather together to celebrate what we are all about,” said Kostoff. “Of course, we do that regularly in our schools and board facilities, but this is the first time in close to 20 years that we have come together on such a large scale.”
The day begins with a Eucharistic Celebration at 9:00 am and will be followed by a keynote address by Sister Miriam Martin, pbvm. During the afternoon, staff will return to their schools and offices, where additional discussion and presentations, and other activities will take place focusing on Celebrating the Human Face of God through Virtues Education, prayer and reflective analysis.
“Catholic education has a long and glorious history in Ontario and graduates of the Catholic system have contributed richly to the fabric of our society for over 160 years,” noted Kostoff. “Catholic education is as relevant today as it ever was and we want to take a little time on November 7 to reflect, understand, appreciate and celebrate this truly wonderful gift.”
On November 7, there are no classes scheduled in Dufferin-Peel schools and board facilities will be operating with minimal staff. Adult and Continuing Education programs scheduled for November 7 will operate as usual. Programs operated by non-Dufferin-Peel agencies such as PLASP, YMCA Day Care and Sheridan College, are not affected, nor are permits for after-hours use of schools and other board facilities.
Dufferin-Peel is one of the largest school boards in the province with 88,000 students in 144 schools, located in Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and Orangeville. Dufferin-Peel is also one of the largest employers in the region. It is the goal of the board to provide quality education to students in a setting which fosters Catholic values and beliefs.
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For information contact:
} Bruce Campbell, General Manager, Communications & Community Relations
(905) 890-0708, ext. 24466 or (905) 609-1480
} Shelagh Peterson, Co-ordinator of Religious Education & Faith Formation
(905) 890-0708, ext. 24408