At this time of year, during school holidays, it’s time to say “Deo gratias – thanks be to God”. 

We give thanks for the gift that is education – that range of opportunities to develop our talents and skills, to learn more of the world and its peoples and to grow in wisdom.

We give thanks to parents who try to be their chldren’s “first teachers”, helping them to grow in love, offering them values which are Gospel-based and nurturing them in the daily pratice of virtues.

We give thanks for teachers, lecturers and other staff who have dedicated their lives to educating others.  In particular we remember all who are retiring from the profession at this time and we thank them for all that they have done.

We give thanks to priests, religious and parshioners who work in partnership with schools, helping them to be communities of faith.

Finally we give thanks to all those who have gone before us who fought to establish the traditions of the faith in homes, parishes and schools.  May we all “strive to be worthy of this great tradition”, as Pope Benedict XVI urged us during his UK visit in September.

May almighty God bless us all, may he guide us in our daily lives and may he protect us from all harm, now and forever.  We make this prayer through Chirst our Lord. Amen.