2014 Catholic Education
Symposium
Sustained by Gospel Witness
"Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers,
and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.“
Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 1975
The central figure in the work of educating . . . is specifically the
form of witness. . . . The witness never refers to himself but to
something, or rather, to Someone greater than he, whom he has
encountered and whose dependable goodness he has sampled.
Thus, every educator and witness finds an unequaled model in
Jesus Christ, the Father's great witness, who said nothing about
himself but spoke as the Father had taught him [cf. John 8:28].
Pope Benedict, June 6, 2005
I would also like to address directly the educators: Do not be
disheartened in the face of the difficulties that the educational
challenge presents! Educating is not a profession but an attitude, a way
of being; in order to educate it is necessary to step out of ourselves and
be among young people, to accompany them in the stages of their
growth and to set ourselves beside them.
Give them hope and optimism for their journey in the world. Teach them
to see the beauty and goodness of creation and of man who always
retains the Creator’s hallmark. But above all with your life be
witnesses of what you communicate. Educators…pass on
knowledge and values with their words; but their words will have an
incisive effect on children and young people if they are accompanied
by their witness, their consistent way of life. Without consistency it is
impossible to educate!
Pope Francis, Address to the Students of Jesuit schools in Italy and
Albania, June 7, 2013
• “A school's authentic Catholicity is found in the vital witness of its
teachers and administrators. With them lies the primary
responsibility for creating a Christian school climate, as
individuals and as a community. Indeed, "it depends chiefly on
them whether the Catholic school achieves its purpose.” (Miller)
• “As Catholic teachers, being in relationship with Christ means
being a full and active participant in the life of the Church,
nourished by sacrament and in fellowship with the local parish
community” (Miller)
• “Canadians on the outside of religious groups are looking for
ministry – with spiritual, personal and relational components
front and center”. (Bibby, A New Day) Everyone is looking for
authentic faith witnesses.
Challenge #1: The difficulty in hiring practicing Catholics and the
inadequate on-going faith formation of Catholic teachers and
administrators.
Reflect personally: Has your faith grown as you have been part of
the teaching profession? If yes, what has been the most effective
program, practice, event that has impacted you? If no, what
would it take? What would you like to see? Where could EICS
improve to meet your needs?
You have just hired a new teacher with incredible potential but no
faith background (maybe baptised but never converted!). What
are you as superintendent, director, consultant, school
administrator going to do to grow this teacher’s faith and create a
“witness”?
Challenge #2: Plan for Evangelization and Ministry
• We (you) are not in this alone. We belong to many communities. We,
as Christian communities, are not perfect but the task of
evangelization is not only for our teachers but students, families, and
the community as a whole. How can the school actively evangelize
families? How might the school/parish work together to evangelize
teachers and families?
• What would a school faith formation plan look like? As an admin
team create a plan – include prayer, staff meetings, PGP discussions,
liturgy, and any other opportunities a school may have to strengthen
the Gospel witness of staff – both experienced and new.
• Reflect on your budget – How you spend money tells me a great deal
about what you value – where does faith formation fit? Do you
spend more on sports equipment?
• Teachers and administrators are active members of the parish to
which they belong
• Teachers and administrators witness their life in Christ through their
relationship with parents, students and each other.
• Teachers and administrators demonstrate their faith through their
active involvement in the school’s Catholic culture, especially liturgy,
prayer and justice activities.
• Teachers and administrators are supported in their ongoing faith
formation through the allocation of time and resources.
• The school and the district have effective and consistent faith
formation plans.
• Faith formation is part of every professional growth plan.
• Hiring practice places the faith life and the willingness to grow in
faith of the prospective candidate as a priority.