AMERICA/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Celebration of the National Day for Catholic Education for public awareness on the contribution of the Church and in recognition of those who have dedicated their lives to education

Santo Domingo (Agenzia Fides) - The Dominican Bishops’ Conference, collaborating with the National Education Committee, celebrated the National Day for Catholic Education and the presentation of the annual Catholic Educator’s Award on April 18, in recognition for the contribution of various teachers in different dioceses across the country who have stood out in the area of education. The award, in the form of a statue of Jesus the Teacher, was presented to Estanislao Martinez Almonte, native of San Francisco de Macoris. The event was presided by Bishop Amancio Escapa, Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo and President of the National Education Committee, under the guidance of Father Nestor Paso, Executive Secretary, and was attended by numerous priests, deacons, religious, teachers, and students.
The act began with a greeting from Fray Carlos Morales, OSA, President of the National Union of Catholic Schools (UNEC). Following a time of prayer, Bishop Ramón Benito Ángeles Fernández, Secretary General of the CED, spoke of the “Conscience Ethic of the Educator,” saying that the integrity of the educator in his professional practice is manifest in a service performed with competence, quality, excellence, action, activity, and behavior that offer a model of an ethical person, as well as in their leadership, honesty, self-denial, prudence, authenticity, and excellence.
“We need men and women, educators, teachers and politicians, company owners and workers that are capable of forming groups and institutions characterized by loyalty and collaboration, acceptance and respect, optimism, coherence, harmony and trust.” The teachers were then awarded for their merits and showed their appreciation for the Bishops’ Conference for so many years at the service of education.
The Catholic Educator Award of the Year is annually presented by the Bishops’ Conference of the Dominican Republic (CED), under the direction of the National Committee for Educational and Diocesan Pastoral Care. The CED began the celebration of the National Day for Catholic Education in 2005, with the goal of creating public awareness on the Church’s contribution in this field and in order to support those who, inspired by their faith in Christ and in virtue of their vocation, dedicate their lives to education. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 22/4/2008; righe 30, parole 353)