Skretting earns Catholic education award by living his faith

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on April 2, 2025.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Aaron Skretting, director of Religious Education with the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division has been named the Excellence in Catholic Education Award recipient and says it is an honour and a humbling experience.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Holy Spirit Catholic School Division recently announced that Aaron Skretting, director of Religious Education, has been named the Excellence in Catholic Education Award recipient.

Chantel Axani, Superintendent for Holy Spirit Catholic Schools says the award is a very prestigious award, that the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA) awards for each division throughout the province.

“This award recognizes a leader in the Catholic faith in our divisions, that go above and beyond sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and supporting the faith journey of students and staff,” says Axani.

She says they chose Skretting as the recipient this year not only because of the way he shares his faith, but the way he lives it.

“Aaron’s journey with Holy Spirit is more than just a career, it is a life-long vocation rooted in faith, dedication and unwavering commitment to Catholic education. He embodies the very essence of what it means to lead with faith and integrity.”

She adds that his deep-rooted connection to the division has shaped his passion for fostering a learning environment where Catholic values thrive, inspiring both students and colleagues alike.

“Aaron’s devotion, leadership and steadfast believe in the power of faith-based education reflects the incredible impact he has had, and makes him an ideal recipient for this award.”

The Excellence in Catholic Education Award has been recognizing members of the division for approximately 20 years and this year Skretting will receive his award during the Blueprints Conference in May, in which trustees and school leaders gather to celebrate their faith.

Skretting says he was surpised to win, because he works in the school board office, as opposed to teachers and other school staff who interact with students every day.

“So, for me to be recognized, it’s an honour and humbling, because there are so many people at the schools that are doing really valuable and important work with kids on the day to day,” he says.

Skretting has been with the division since 2016, returning as an adult after being a Holy Spirit student himself and later working at a different school division. He says this job gives him a deeper appreciation for the division and Catholic education.

“I think when you’re a student, you just know that you’re going to school, and you know that in a Catholic school it has a faith aspect to it,” he says. “You think and talk about your spirituality as you develop as a whole person.

“And then when you go to university, you work in other places and you come back, you see that from a different perspective as an adult.”

His position as director of religious education is multifaceted, as he is responsible not only for the religious education in the school district but also for supporting teachers in the training that they need, while also providing opportunities for people to have formation, such as co-ordinating opening mass and spiritual development day.

“We have formation opportunities to our administrators, and they take those things back to their schools, so it’s kind of leading the leaders in that regard.”

Skretting says another big part of his job is the planning and co-ordination of the three-year faith plan for the district.

“We create resources that get distributed to schools and opportunities that go along with that and it’s a way of uniting all the people within schools whether they are staff or students or communities.”