August 12, 2009

Catholic schools: Transforming lives one at a time

By Richard Thompson

In partnership with parents, Catholic schools serve as a catalyst for transforming individual students through teaching and living Gospel values within the school community.  In “The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium,” it states, “In a very special way the Catholic school affords the opportunity to meet young people in an environment which favors their Christian formation.” 

One of the best ways to measure the success of our Catholic schools in meeting this commitment is through the comments of those now choosing to invest in this evangelizing mission of the Church.  A recent survey of more than 5,000 parents, teachers, pastors, benefactors and students measured over 150 quality indicators of Catholic schools, and the following were rated as top quality indicators by those surveyed:

• Cultivation in students and the whole community a love for Jesus
• Opportunity for participation in the sacraments
• Formation in moral excellence
• Cultivation of a faith community
• Assisting parents in formation of academic excellence
• Providing a safe and nurturing environment
• Supportive of student success

This environment truly favors the formation of students.

This exhortation based on St. Paul’s First Letter to the  Corinthians (15: 20-21) helps all those in our school communities know and understand their transformational power:  “Lord, let me put you first today, in both my day and my heart.  Help me continually to begin again in you and may my whole life be sanctified through your presence.”

As we begin a fresh school year marked by many opportunities and challenges, it is important that we all work together to celebrate, nurture, support, and preserve this lasting legacy of our Church.  In the prayer of St. Thomas More, “Lord, the things we pray for give us the grace to labor for.”

Richard Thompson is superintendent of the Archdiocese of Denver’s Catholic schools.