Category: Archive

The celebration of Catholic Schools Week began on January 26 and runs through February 1.  This week the spotlight clearly shines on the mission of Catholic education as the theme so aptly declares, “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service”.

The National Catholic Educational Association highlights some statistics on their website that are quite revealing.  Over two million students are enrolled in Catholic schools in the current academic year at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels.  Of these students, 317,470 are non-Catholic.  That is just under 16% of the total enrollment of students in the Catholic system.  There are a total of 6,685 Catholic schools in the United States; we celebrated the opening of 28 new ones this year while also witnessing the closing or consolidation of 148 others.  The overall student/teacher ratio is 13:1.

Full-time (equivalent) staff in our Catholic schools is comprised predominantly of the laity; lay women comprise 74.5% while lay men make up 22.3% for a total of 96.8%.  Clergy and religious only comprise 3.2 % of professional staff in our Catholic schools.

What do these statistics reveal about the state of Catholic education in our country?  Obviously, the Catholic educational system still has a profound impact on our society with 6,685 schools in operation and over 2 million students enrolled.  Those numbers suggest a huge potential for shaping the culture with solid Christian Catholic values if effective faith formation and education are a central component of each of these Catholic schools.  On the other hand, if we see our schools functioning simply as private schools, but not necessarily all that focused on being Catholic, we won’t see the potential fulfilled as dramatically as it could be.  If that occurs, then we have missed our purpose and our mission.  There are over 2,000 Catholic schools with a waiting list for admission, and I am sincerely hopeful that our Catholicity is the driving force behind that positive statistic.  

The decline of religious men and women (priests, brothers and sisters) has certainly impacted Catholic education in recent decades.  This decline has definitely been viewed in a negative light, and with good reason.  Our religious men and women bring a Catholic presence into our Catholic institutions that are uniquely their own, and it is sometimes difficult to capture those charisms in laity-led endeavors.  However, this decline in the number of religious serving our schools has provided a profound opportunity for the laity to step up to a ministry which empowers them to more fully live out their vocational call to holiness.  Vatican II recognized the vital role of the laity, and the modern Catholic educational system is a place where the laity exercise a premier ministry in shaping the hearts and minds of the young Church.

Catholic Schools Week celebrates a wide range of attributes regarding our vast educational system across the country.  First and foremost, I see it as a time of gratitude.  Many people sacrificed immensely throughout the years to get us to where we are today.  They gave generously of their time, talent, and treasure to make Catholic education a reality and we cannot take those sacrifices for granted.  Generous people continue to make sacrifices today to continue the tradition, and it is imperative that we live with grateful hearts for these blessings.

Parents, you are the first and primary teachers of your children in the faith.  Thank you for the many ways you take that obligation seriously.  Your ability to model the faith to your children cannot be matched by anyone else; you have a unique role bestowed by God.  The Catholic school and parish serve as a support system to assist you in this endeavor, but you provide the foundation upon which these other avenues are able to build.  Please continue to pray with (and for) your children that they may grow in wisdom, grace, and holiness.

Catholic school administrators, you fulfill a significant role in establishing the spiritual climate of your Catholic school.  The spirituality of the faculty, staff, students, and parents cannot simply be an “add-on” thing that you do when it is convenient.  The Christian perspective has to be the central focus of all that takes place on campus, and a Christ-like attitude should permeate every fiber of our Catholic schools.  Administrators, thank you for the leadership you demonstrate to make our Catholicity a reality in the institutions that you serve.  Keep the flame of faith burning brightly.

Faculty and staff, thank you for your ministry to the students and parents who enter the walls of your school.  Your pursuit of excellence as an educator, and as a Christian, creates an environment in your classroom that serves as a catalyst for others to pursue excellence too.  Your enthusiasm for academic learning and faith formation as well as your zest for life are contagious.  You have the opportunity to be a blessing to everyone who enters your room, including your colleagues.  Don’t miss the chance to be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ!  

Students, it can be challenging at times to stay focused on learning, loving, and living Christ.  There are many things in the world designed to distract you from those things that are important in your academic studies as well as your faith formation and development.  Please know that the guidance of your parents and teachers is a responsibility they possess by the vocational calling they have received, and it is a responsibility not taken lightly.  While none of us fulfill our duties perfectly, I hope you are able to witness an abundance of love and caring from those whose care you are entrusted.  It is my sincere prayer that each of you experience the immense love of God through the love and respect of your parents and teachers.  Happy Catholic Schools Week!

“Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service”

Today is the anniversary of the deaths of Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy.  The names will probably not ring a bell for most people, but they were both murdered in 1978 at Florida State University in the Chi Omega Sorority House.  Each of them would be in their mid-fifties today if they were still alive, but unfortunately their lives were tragically cut short by the actions of a man whose name I will not mention.  Sadly, his name is very recognizable.  If you do an internet search utilizing the names of the women, you will get many more hits for the man who killed them than what you will get for the victims.  (It seems that too often in our modern society we create a lasting memory of the perpetrator of a crime rather than the victims.)

I did not know either of the victims and have no direct connection to them at all.  Yet, I get a deep sense of sadness when I think about the last moments of their lives.  Simply reading about the brutal nature of the attack was enough to make my heart break for these innocent young women.  I can only imagine the grief that was experienced by their parents, other family members, their friends and classmates.  

Following the murders, fear permeated other female students as they wondered if such an attack would happen again.  The ripple effect of such a heinous crime extends quite far into the surrounding community.  It was painfully evident that a sense of safety and security was lost as news spread about the early Sunday morning attack on these women while they slept.  Shock, disbelief, and terror swept through the corridors.  Life had ended for two individuals and was severely damaged for two others who survived the vicious attack at the Chi Omega house.  A fifth victim was severely beaten at another location as well.  Ultimately, life was changed for a multitude of people that morning due to the emotional distress that such a disastrous event can bring upon us.

Our nation and our society are in desperate need of prayer for healing for the many acts of senseless violence that takes place all too frequently.  May the memories of Lisa Levy and Margaret Bowman remind us today that we need to be those people of prayer!

Fr. John Dear wrote an article for the National Catholic Reporter on January 7, 2014 announcing that after 32 years he was leaving the Jesuits. 

(You can read it here: http://ncronline.org/blogs/road-peace/leaving-jesuits-after-32-years)

Several years ago I read his book entitled, “A Persistent Peace.”  Since that time I have read his columns periodically and have had the opportunity to attend one of his presentations as well.  One thing is for sure; he gives a person something to think about in regard to pursuing peace.  Whether you agree or disagree with his tactics, most people will recognize that Fr. John Dear has certainly raised awareness about living a nonviolent lifestyle.

I am not going to enter into the debate about the methodologies Fr. John employed to get his message across to people.  His multiple arrests are self-explanatory in that regard.  However, I want to reflect upon the challenge that I sensed after reading his book and being present at one of his presentations.  Father John stirred up a desire within me to truly make a commitment to transformation.  Living with the status quo certainly did not appear to be a viable option if I was going to seriously strive to live out the teachings of the Gospel. There had to be changes in my thinking, as well as in my prayer and actions, if I had any hope of effectively entering into a way of life focused on peace, healing and nonviolence.  Apathy and complacency should not be taking up residence in my day-to-day experiences. 

The discernment process of Fr. John Dear over the last few years must have been excruciatingly difficult.  An individual doesn’t walk away from 32 years of commitment without a significant amount of internal struggle.  I wish Fr. Dear well in his new endeavors.  Furthermore, I hope he has the opportunity to experience healing and peace in his life and ministry as he moves ahead.

Thomas Paine holds a prominent position in the history of America.  His writings continue to inspire and motivate patriots in current times just as they did back in his day.  His eloquence captures the imaginations of historians and stirs the hearts of those who yearn for profound and powerful exhortations.  A person can easily contemplate the urgent need for some “Common Sense” today, and we may even relate more fully to “The Crisis” as it challenges us to reflect upon our own commitment to a life of service for God and country.

The first pamphlet of “The Crisis” was published on December 23, 1776.  The beginning of the opening paragraph provides an abundance of food for thought.  Thomas Paine wrote:

THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. 

Paine’s depiction of a “summer soldier” or “sunshine patriot” in the second sentence makes it evident that this is not going to be a warm and fuzzy document.  Using a persuasive appeal Paine utilizes ethics, emotion, and logic to captivate the attention of the reader in an attempt to move the individual into action.  Our society today is in desperate need of such a passionate plea.  Unfortunately, I believe many people in contemporary culture have a severely limited grasp of history, and even fewer embrace the philosophical and theological assertions so generally accepted two centuries ago.  Can a comparison be made today between tyranny and hell if there is no longer a belief in hell by a large segment of the population?

The words of Thomas Paine in this paragraph have the potential to ignite the flame of love in every Christian believer.  Some would say that it is harder and harder to be a faith-filled Christian in our secularized society.  Christians are being pushed further and further to the edges of society and are even being labeled as a hate group when they stand up for traditional family values.  I agree with Thomas Paine that we can take consolation in knowing that “the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”  The gift of faith is not something we should esteem too lightly.  Maybe the challenges we face as Christian believers will enhance the dearness of the gift of faith.

During the Advent season we have heard Scripture readings in which John the Baptist has been a prominent figure.  John the Baptist was the “voice” crying out in the wilderness.  One commentary stated that it is the role of the “voice” to awaken us, to startle us.  It is the role of the “Word” (Jesus Christ) to instruct us.  Have we been sufficiently awakened by the “voice” so we can hear the “Word” speak to us?  Has the passion and fire of John the Baptist exhorting us to bear good fruit as evidence of our repentance inspired us to holiness?  Thomas Paine effectively called people to patriotism; John the Baptist reminds us of our ultimate call to sanctity!