Dear Des Moines Diocese Catholic School Parents,

It is a very sad time for America. The Des Moines Diocese Catholic Schools share in your grief and concerns. Some citizens have chosen freely to protest while others have elected to pray. We all want calmer times, and a return to live life as we choose. We need to keep in mind our children are watching, listening and learning. They look to us for how to respond during times of crisis.

While we hope and pray that these unsettling times caused by the pandemic and social injustices pass, we must be committed to focusing on the effects on our young minds. We need to take the necessary, challenging steps to address these matters through educating that all lives matter. The solution to our current crisis may start with new laws and policies, but must be built upon a culture of mutual respect and fairness rooted in the belief that each person is a child of God who bears the image of Jesus in a unique way. The work of building the culture of life we want, and that our children deserve, begins in our communities through our schools, churches, and homes.

There is no place in today’s society for racism, violence, and hatred. It is time for our country to reflect and model what a modern society can and should be for our communities and the world. We will continue to work in advocacy for all children so that they shall experience an educational journey free from prejudice, free from injustice, and free from inequities. Our Catholic schools remain steadfast in investing in our children and their communities. Through their Catholic education, we will develop the next generation of our nation’s leaders whose formation encourages them to seek justice for all people.

As you talk with your children about current events, the following resources may prove helpful.

CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD WINNERS, PRESCHOOL-TEEN

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/coretta-scott-king-book-award-winners

LATINX BOOKS, PRESCHOOL-TEEN

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/latinx-books

ASIAN AND ASIAN AMERICAN BOOKS, PRESCHOOL-TEEN

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/asian-and-asian-american-books

INCLUDES BOOKS FROM MIDDLE EAST AND INDIA, PRESCHOOL-TEEN

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/multicultural-books

Together we can sustain hope for the future!

Donna Bishop

Donna Bishop

Superintendent of Schools

Diocese of Des Moines