Center for Catholic Education at UD

By Jacinta Mergler, Lalanne Director

In this season of gift giving I am reminded of St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians where he tells the people to give from the heart because God loves and blesses a cheerful giver. There are many cheerful givers who help make the Lalanne program a success.

Our current 2017-2018 Lalanne teachers give daily to their students, school communities and the community of teachers they live with. Their enthusiasm to share the Catholic faith and live the Gospel values is a gift to all of us.

Lalanne Alumni now totals over 180 men and women. Many continue to live their Lalanne experience using their gifts as teachers, as principals, as campus ministers, as married Catholic couples, as young parents and as persons contemplating religious life. They are leaders in the Church today.

Superintendents and principals of Catholic schools in the Archdioceses of Cincinnati, Diocese of Cleveland and Diocese of Lansing, MI cheerfully partner with Lalanne to make it possible for beginning teachers to have a successful start in becoming Catholic educators.

The Marianists Family gives the example of living and working as a community of faith that the foundation for Lalanne was built on and continues to thrive.

Lalanne Advisory Board members give up Saturday mornings twice a year to share their insight and wisdom in making Lalanne the best possible postgraduate teacher service program.

The University of Dayton School of Education and Health Sciences cheerfully supports Lalanne giving their time and talent in numerous ways.  Our beginning Lalanne teachers have the opportunity to work with master educators to learn best practices and mold them into professional young men and women who make a positive impact in the lives of their students.

The University of Dayton Community gives attention to the little details everything from providing rooms for Lalanne events to parking permits for the teachers in the summer help make our invited guests and teachers feel welcome when they come to campus.

I thank all the cheerful givers. I know God blesses the faithful use of time and talent when it comes to Lalanne!  May he bless each of you as we get ready to celebrate the greatest gift of all, God’s love for us! Merry Christmas and blessings in the New Year.

Edited by Susan Ferguson and Barb Miller