Brief Background:

St. Timothy was a close companion and spiritual son of St. Paul. He grew up in a family of faith, taught by his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois, while his father was Greek, which meant Timothy learned to live and believe in a mixed cultural environment. Paul recognized his goodness and potential and eventually entrusted him with great responsibility, including leading the Christian community in Ephesus. Even though Timothy was young and naturally timid, Paul constantly encouraged him to be courageous, faithful, and strong in his leadership. According to tradition, Timothy was eventually martyred for the faith. He is honored as the patron saint of young people, students, pastors and bishops, and especially those who struggle with fear or timidity.

St. Titus was also a close co-worker of St. Paul, but he was likely a Gentile convert to Christianity. Paul often sent Titus to handle difficult and challenging situations in the early Church, especially in Corinth, and later appointed him as leader of the Church in Crete. Titus seems to have been more firm, practical, and decisive than Timothy, making him well suited for organizing communities and correcting problems. Tradition holds that Titus lived a long life and died peacefully after many years of service as a bishop. He is honored as the patron saint of Church administrators and leaders, and of those who are responsible for organizing and governing Christian communities.

REFLECTION:

This week, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week—a week set aside each year to give thanks for the gift of Catholic education. And each day, we highlight something different that makes our school special: today we celebrate, our community.

It’s important that we don’t rush past that word—community—because a Catholic school is not just a group of people who happen to share the same campus. A Catholic school is a family. It is a place where we learn together, grow together, pray together, struggle together, and become who God is calling us to be—together.

And that matters more than we sometimes realize, because we don’t live in a world that always supports faith.

Sometimes the world is openly hostile to faith—mocking it, dismissing it, or pushing God out of public life. More often, the world is simply indifferent—not angry at God, just uninterested. And slowly, that kind of world can make people quiet about their faith. It can make people hide it, soften it, or keep it private. It can make people forget who they are.

That’s exactly the kind of moment St. Paul is writing into in his letter to Timothy.

Paul is in prison. The Church is under pressure. Being known as a Christian is risky. And Timothy—young, tired, and responsible for leading others—is feeling the weight of it all. Some people are even ashamed to be associated with Paul because he is in chains.

And Paul tells him something powerful: “Stir into flame the gift of God that you have… for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-control.” In other words: Don’t let the fire go out. Don’t let fear decide who you are.

Then Paul reminds Timothy that his faith did not start with him. It was passed on—from his grandmother Lois, to his mother Eunice, and now to him. His faith was given, nurtured, and protected in a community.

That’s how faith survives in a difficult world. Not by standing alone—but by being carried together.

That’s why today, as we celebrate our community, we are celebrating something essential, not something extra. We are celebrating the fact that here, in this school, faith is not strange. Prayer is not unusual. Believing in God is not something you have to explain or apologize for. Here, we remind each other who we are.

Teachers, staff, parents, and students—each of you is part of how God keeps the fire burning in this place. Sometimes you do that by teaching. Sometimes by encouraging. Sometimes by being patient. Sometimes by standing up for what’s right. Sometimes just by showing up when someone else is tired or struggling.

In a world that can be hostile or indifferent, this community becomes a light. This school becomes a shelter for the flame.

And like Paul says to Timothy, the responsibility now belongs to us: to stir into flame the gift we have been given. Not just for ourselves—but for each other.

So today, we don’t just celebrate that we go to a Catholic school.  We celebrate that we belong to one another. We celebrate that we believe together. And we celebrate that, no matter what kind of world we live in, we do not stand alone.