It has been 16 years since I went through the interview process for the position I currently hold as Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oakland, California. At the time, I had never been to any of the cities by the Bay and only had one close relative whom I could ask for information. When I approached them and inquired about the church, they said they were not sure about the church, but they did know of a school called St. Paul’s that their friends with kids were always raving about, and that it was a really good school.
As it turns out, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and School were indeed connected. As the Rector of the Church, I am not only the school’s landlord, but also an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees, and the parent of two K to 8 graduates. My involvement with the school is not only professional but deeply personal, as I tirelessly strive to maintain a strong relationship between our institutions and be a part of the team that helps maintain an environment of academic, social, and emotional excellence for our children, their families, and all the staff.
Since I have been involved with St. Paul’s School for over 15 years, I have been a part of many transitions. I have partnered with 3 Heads of School, several board chairs, and co-chairs. I have, on occasion, been asked to come to a classroom and have conversations with the students about my experiences of life. I have given ‘Chapel Talks’ to thousands of willing listeners and I have listened to thousands of young voices share their stories, experiences and learnings from kindergarten standing before a large audience for he first time to seventh and eighth graders leading a march in the streets of our city to arrive at the mayor’s office to demand they do better for our community and its citizens.
If anyone had asked me 16 years ago what Episcopal schools were about, my answer would have been quite simply: they are a ministry of The Episcopal Church. Today, my response goes on for at least 30 minutes and is too long to share in these lines. Our commitment to the families and the children that come to us goes far beyond academic excellence. We work hard to achieve human excellence, supporting the members of our community in striving to be true citizens of the world. When I run across graduates of St. Paul’s, a majority of the time, they are individuals who are not only successful high schoolers, college students, and working professionals, but they are also people deeply invested in making their communities better for all.
The Rev. Mauricio J. Wilson, D.Min. is Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oakland, CA.