In 1974, Catholic Schools Week was established as the annual celebration of American Catholic education.
Catholic schools celebrate this week with Masses, open houses, and other activities for Catholic students, families, parishioners, and community members.
This year we celebrate Catholic Schools Week from January 30 to February 5.
Educational mission
The Catholic Church’s educational mission flows from Jesus’ life and teaching. The cross symbolizes the sacrificial love that Jesus teaches us to imitate!
Bible scholar Fr. John L. McKenzie wrote that Jesus spent more time teaching than anything else.
Through education, the Church continues Jesus’ teaching by preparing her members to hear, live, and proclaim the gospel. Good teachers are keys to good Catholic schools.
In the pastoral document, “The Catholic School,” it says, “Teachers by their witness and behavior are of first importance in imparting a distinctive character to Catholic schools.”
Pope Paul VI said, “ Modern humanity listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers. He or she listens best to teachers who are witnesses.”
When I was a boy, I admired Father Grievildinger, our German pastor.
When he prayed his breviary on Kieler’s Main St., I would say “Good morning Father and hold out my hand, and Father would give me nickels and pennies. I replied, “Thank you, Father!”
The only speaking part I ever had in a play, was,” We thank Father for all the nickels and pennies that he gives us!”
He was succeeded by Father Goetzman who was a very Christ-like priest.
Studies show that Catholic school students are more likely to attend Mass, belong to a parish, receive sacraments, consider a Religious vocation, and volunteer in the parish.
Catholic school graduates are also more likely to vote, and participate in the political process as adults, thus helping to maintain and strengthen democracy.
Church teachings
In no. 2226 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it says “Education by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years. This happens when family members help one another grow in faith by the witness of a Christian life. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith.”
In nos. 2225 and 2226 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it says “Through the sacrament of marriage graces, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children into the mysteries of the faith of which they are the first heralds. Parents teach their children to pray and discover their vocation as children of God.”
As the primary religious educators of their children, it is important that parents know and live the basic teachings of the Church and continue their enrichment by taking and supporting educational opportunities offered to their children. They should teach their children how to discern how cleverly packaged atheistic secular values can infiltrate learning and challenge faith.
In no. 2227 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it says, “Children, in turn, should contribute to the growth in holiness of their parents. Each should be generous and tireless in forgiving one another for offenses, quarrels, injustices, and neglect.”
This happened when Danny’s mom was on retreat. Before Dad tucked his son into bed, his son prayed, “God, when I grow up, help me to be good like my dad, the best dad in the world.” With tears in his eyes, Dad hurried back to his room and prayed, “Help me be the kind of dad Danny thinks I am.”
Responsible parents lay the foundation upon which teachers in Catholic schools and religious education teachers build. In Canon 798 of the Code of Canon Law, it says, “Parents are to entrust their children to those schools which provide a Catholic education. If they are unable to do this, they are obliged to take care that suitable Catholic education is provided for their children outside the schools.”
Catholic school students are guided in their learning by teachers in the basics of Catholic faith, tradition, and prayer. At its best, Catholic education sees no contradiction between true science and Christianity. Both are revelations of the same artistic creator. Whether it is a beautiful sunset described poetically, intricate math and science laws that reveal a universe in the heavens, or the mini-universe of a cell, knowledge is ultimately approached with the belief that it can point to God who authored it.
In the office of a principal I admire hangs a plaque which reads, “Good teachers affect eternity you never know where their influence stops.”
My years in a Catholic school and 20 years as a Catholic high school teacher helped me to come closer to Christ.
Thanks to the School Sisters of St. Francis and Father Goetzman, my saintly pastor, Catholic schools greatly influenced my priestly vocation.
In essence, parents, teachers, students, administrators, Religious, and clergy must work together in a symbiotic relationship to make and keep schools Catholic.
Let us pray for and support Catholic schools for as Pope St. John Paul II repeatedly said, “Our youth are the hope of the future.”
Fr. Donald Lange is a pastor emeritus in the Diocese of Madison.