“Living the Christian
Culture:
•
Living the Dream”
Professor Bart McGettrick
13 June 2012
 It is essential to think of Catholic
Education as a “culture” and not as a
curriculum issue, or a matter of
technical activities.
 It is a concern to be with the Spirit, and
for the relationships which are touched
and are inspired by the Spirit.
 Catholic education opens the spirit to
God within and among us, and bringing
gifts which come from the Spirit…
peace.
Reading the signs of the times
We live in a culture of uncertainty in which:
Knowledge is changing rapidly, and there is a
limited amount of pre-ordained knowledge for
developing curricula.
Society is unsure of the future.
Schools are uncertain of their role – Eg
“Vocational or liberal education?”
(A useful distinction?)
The nature of the student is complex –
i-phones, but a (limited or) different cultural
base or cultural capital.
In contemporary society the main
function of education is –
The flourishing of humanity
including
personal and social well-being
and
developing gifts and talents in the
service of others
What makes education Christian and
Catholic is the breath of the Spirit into
the communities of learning…
The body with its many parts….but all
part of the same body…. filled with life
in all its goodness and glory.
The radical agenda for social
transformation which we need today is
to bring all people, especially children,
to be part of that body of Christ.
Catholic Education is the outward sign
of an inner spirit. That inner spirit is
filled with all that gives humanity hope,
life &love, and faith.
It grows from an inner inspiration but is
expressed in practical terms in the real
world.
It has a holism, so that there is a
connnectedness between the inner self
and the work we do in the real world.
These cannot be kept separate or
distinct.
Challenges
 One of the greatest challenges which we
have is to have an adequate vision of
education. This has to be a vision that is
practical and sustainable
 Education needs to be nurtured in the
treasured places of the heart and
exercised in the roughest and most
challenging places of human endeavour.
 Ignatius might support that!
It is a challenge for the Catholic school to
maintain its spiritual, humanitarian and
cultural identity in a world where there are
huge challenges of
Materialism
Indifference
Secularisation
Individualism.
Who is looking after us?
The role of a school
The school is a place of education – not
only of learning... Formation and
transformation take place with schools
and families.
We should move from Information to
Formation to Transformation.
Education is always personal.
Leaders have a duty to be optimistic.
Towards a Vision
 However diversified our societies we
need to hold to a vision that is based on
truth
 Humanity needs to pay attention to
justice, love and hope....
 Education across the world has a hugely
beneficial effect on societies.
 Education is not a commodity, but a
treasure of the mind and heart.
Education is concerned with “the whole
person…”
Often described as “ body, mind and
spirit…”
We educate not only the body mind and
spirit… but all other elements too… the
social, emotional, the parts we do not
fully understand….
“Lock, stock and barrel…”
The curriculum is a means to the end
and not the purpose of education.
Sometimes we need to protect children
and others from the negative effects of
oppressive educational regimes.
Education is incarnated in a person…
It exists in the hearts of people.
Education makes us more suited
to life and living….
 This is the flourishing of all that is good
and right
 All that brings us closer to God
 All that makes us more human.
 Education is to humanise society.
 So many trends dehumanise us… These
are not new ideas…
“Amongst the other blessings (which God gives)
it is to be reckoned not least that by assiduous
study man may win the pearl of knowledge. This
shows him the way to live well and happily and
its preciousness opens the door for him to
understand the mysteries of the universe; it
helps and raises to distinction those that were
born in the lowest places.”
(Nicholas V, Bull of 7 January 1451, Glasgow University
Archives)
So Catholic Education is not just about
schools.
It is where we find the spirit alive and in
us.
This spirit is everywhere… that is the
very essence of God…. God among us.
We have to look at “The Body of
Christ” and all that this implies… Many
parts… working as one… co-dependent.
“Education is not given for the
purposes of gaining power but as an
aid towards a fuller understanding
of, and communion with man, events
and things. Knowledge is not to be
considered as a means of material
prosperity and success, but as a call
to serve and be responsible for
others.”
(The Catholic School, 1977, 56)
 Education is the transformation of
people through personal
encounters.
 That was the work of Jesus during his
time on earth.
 What scripture helps us understand
this? The Samarian woman at the
well… in Nablus.
Education as a Journey
 Education is an endless journey on
which people are transformed through
personal encounters and deep
relationships.
 On this journey the footsteps are more
important than the signposts.
 Newman spoke of change; we need to
think of transformation.
The Journey of Education
 The relationships (footsteps) are more
important than the measured outcomes
and points along the journey.
 It is a journey without a final
destination, and which has endless
opportunities for diversions and for
visiting places of interest.
Our companions
 In Catholic education we should strive to
have as a constant companion and guide,
Our Lord.
 One challenge is to have teachers who
have a spiritual appetite that hungers
for that idea.
Hope
The greatest poverty is the
poverty of hope and our schools
have to offer that above all –
a sense of hope in a more secure,
just and compassionate world.
Justice
 “Justice has two beautiful daughters –
anger and courage. Anger at what
injustices there are, and the courage to
make sure they do not remain.” (St Augustine)
 We live in a society of great injustice.
There are greater gaps than ever
between the “haves ” and the “have
nots.”
 Are all our classrooms places of justice?
We wish to form a society where people
will act
Through love, care and compassion;
With a care for beauty and wonder;
With a sense of hope;
By serving the world by her/his gifts.