Check the link below for an extraordinary letter written by the Chancellor of the Diocese of Belleville (IL) to his bishop and boss, Wilton Gregory, currently Archbishop of Atlanta.
http://www.stlbeacon.org/spotanskiletter.pdf
Monday, May 17, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Catholic Schools
Here is the portion of my weekly bulletin note for Sunday, May 16. I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Our parish school is a 100 yrs old, founded in a day when Catholics in Durham were few. In 1909, parishioners wanted to be sure that as their children acquired the skills to be successful parents and professionals they would also develop the “habits of the heart” necessary to live their vocations wearing the mind and heart of Christ.
That continues to be the only reason a parish should have a school. (After writing this I thought of those Catholics schools serving large numbers of non-Christians. What do people make of these efforts? I have some thoughts but would be interested in hearing yours first.)
Recently, Immaculata was reaccredited by the Southern Assoc of Colleges and School. So we continue to do a good job of educating our students in language arts, social studies and all the rest of those areas of particular interest to the secular accrediting agencies. But how good a job are we doing in the work of instilling the qualities of discipleship? What are the benchmarks of success?
This coming year I’ll be asking the school to explore that question. I’d be interested to know what you think. And for those families with kids in other schools – what are you looking for in the faith formation of those children? What do you look for in children enrolled in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
Our parish school is a 100 yrs old, founded in a day when Catholics in Durham were few. In 1909, parishioners wanted to be sure that as their children acquired the skills to be successful parents and professionals they would also develop the “habits of the heart” necessary to live their vocations wearing the mind and heart of Christ.
That continues to be the only reason a parish should have a school. (After writing this I thought of those Catholics schools serving large numbers of non-Christians. What do people make of these efforts? I have some thoughts but would be interested in hearing yours first.)
Recently, Immaculata was reaccredited by the Southern Assoc of Colleges and School. So we continue to do a good job of educating our students in language arts, social studies and all the rest of those areas of particular interest to the secular accrediting agencies. But how good a job are we doing in the work of instilling the qualities of discipleship? What are the benchmarks of success?
This coming year I’ll be asking the school to explore that question. I’d be interested to know what you think. And for those families with kids in other schools – what are you looking for in the faith formation of those children? What do you look for in children enrolled in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
