Catholic Teachers' Guild.

Toronto--On March 31 a new organization, the Catholic Teachers' Guild, held its first public meeting in Toronto. Dr. William May, a distinguished Catholic theologian from Washington, D.C., spoke to more than 150 teachers on "The Vocation of the Catholic Teacher".

He said that everyone has a threefold vocation: a universal one to holiness; a personal one as a priest, a religious, or a married or unmarried layperson; and one in view of a person's particular circumstances, one of which is one's occupation.

A Catholic teacher in general, he continued, must

* acknowledge the unity of all truth, accept Revelation, and try earnestly to understand it;

* follow the teaching of the Church's Magisterium, which is the authentic voice of Christ;

* strive for excellence by mastering one's own educational specialty.

Dr. May then discussed a list of the particular qualities desired in the Catholic teacher.

The Master of Ceremonies, Barry White, an elementary school teacher, explained that the purpose of the Guild is to "support and strengthen the vocation of the teacher in the teaching tradition of the Catholic Church," based on the conviction that Catholic education is "anchored in personal witness." The Guild, he said "is not in competition with any other group or federation," nor is it a representative of any other authority. It seeks to foster a sense of community among Catholic teachers in their task of engaging in the "New Evangelizaton" called for by the Holy Father.

The tape of the talk may be obtained by writing to Family Media, 96 Flora Drive, Toronto, ON, M1P 1A6, or phoning [phone], for $7 plus $2.50 shipping. More information about the Guild can be obtained from e-mail at: [e-mail]