I was able to experience one of those moments this past week, as I sat in the office of Msgr. Michael J. Corona, director of the diocese’s department of education, to interview him on his new post. (See story, page S10)

I first met Msgr. Corona nearly 13 years ago. As director of communications, the then Father Corona was my second interview for the open position of staff writer. In the first few years of my tenure with the diocese, I had many discussions with my boss, Father Corona, sitting across from him at his desk just as I was doing for this latest story.

But in the years that have passed, Msgr. Corona’s work with the diocese has evolved well beyond the scope of the Office of Communications. When first learning that he would be leaving us to assume the role of director of development, the communications staff felt sad and somewhat abandoned, wondering how a man who threw himself into the work of communications, who had such a clear idea of what this ministry meant and who supported us in our work so well, could leave us for a completely different kind of work.

What we didn’t see at the time, and what I came to see in my moment of clarity, is that his leaving communications was just the beginning for him. Over the years, Msgr. Corona built on his earlier foundation of educational leadership as a school principal and director, and developed new skills and talents in communications, development and stewardship, all the while expanding his contributions to the work of the diocese.

Despite the diversity in his roles and responsibilities over these many years, I know that the mission of one of my first bosses remains the same . . . to support the bishop in his work and to minister to the people of the diocese. This was his message when he was director of communications . . . a message that helped to form my own understanding of my role with the diocese.

And it remains his message as he takes the helm of the department of education, from which he will minister to the 17,000 students enrolled in Catholic schools in the diocese, and their teachers, principals and pastors, as well as the more than 50,000 children enrolled in religious education classes across the diocese’s 108 parishes, and their catechists and directors.

The challenges are great indeed for Catholic education at this point in time. Figures released on the 2002-2003 school year by the National Catholic Educational Association indicate that 140 Catholic schools had been closed or consolidated nationwide, while only 47 new school opened. Locally, the numbers are not yet in for this year’s enrollment, but diocesan officials project that there will be a drop in elementary school enrollment while the number of students attending Catholic high schools in the diocese is likely to remain about the same.

And the struggle to financially support Catholic schools has never been greater. Parish coffers continue to recover from the financial toll of the clergy sex abuse crisis and the downturn of the economy. Catholic families still face unemployment and ever rising costs of living.

Msgr. Corona knows he has his work cut out for him in regard to Catholic schools, but is also concerned about the effectiveness of religious education in the diocese. He is looking to find new and different ways of doing things, fresh ideas and proactive strategies.

With a departmental team that combines both experience and vision with new faces and areas of expertise, along with his own extensive background as a pastor, educator and leader in the areas of stewardship, marketing and development, Msgr. Corona is well positioned to make things happen.

Not that I ever doubted it . . . but God really seems to know what he’s doing.