Love of children first, says new Vicar for Education

Fr David Khan, the first Vicar for Education in the Archdiocese, and incoming new Chief Executive Officer of the Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM), said he is taking the will of Jesus very seriously in this new role.

Celebrating Mass on August 18 at the chapel of the RC Belmont Pastoral Campus (BPC) with staff on his first day as CEO, he disclosed that he has penned a letter titled ‘Love God’s Children’ which will be sent to principals of all RC schools. He explained the context: “Many times, we speak about loving God’s children, but we do not have the child’s agency as the centre.”

He said teachers are “hope” in the education system, and in this Jubilee Year when Catholics are pilgrims of hope, he called them to see themselves as “hope personified”. He cited Jesus’ words “suffer the little children to come unto me for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven”.

Jesus is called “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” but Fr Khan said he was impacted by the warning against those who cause harm to children—that it is better to tie a millstone around their neck and be thrown into the sea.

“We are being called to love God’s children, so in context, what must I do to inherit eternal life? I see it in this role: I have to love God’s children. God’s children are not only the little ones…we are God’s children; so, we have to love God, we have to love neighbour, and we have to love ourselves,” he said.

In his homily, Fr Khan dealt with three of the seven precepts of the Church, asking, “Are we simply keeping the Commandments?” He qualified this statement with another prompt, “Are we keeping the will of God?”

Fr Khan said Catholics are not only to keep the Commandments but also the precepts of the Church. He cited Jesus’ first public message “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is close at hand”.

He asked if people repented and accessed the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr Khan highlighted the corporal and spiritual works of mercy in relation to the command in Matthew 25, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers”.

He said there was one precept which many ignored, “do this in memory of me”. Prompting reflection he stated: “If we want to inherit eternal life, we need to do His will”.

After the liturgy, he announced his availability to meet with CEBM staff over the next two weeks. “It’s just a meet and greet and to find out how things are, okay, where we are and where we want to go and how we’re going to get there. Well, I just want you always to hold in mind so the theme of this year for me is, to love God’s children,” he told them.

After the Mass, Fr Khan went to the CEBM headquarters, next door to the BPC, for light refreshments with the staff. Fr Khan takes over from Sharon Mangroo, who served as CEO for 12 years.