Education articles

Reason to exist as Catholic school

The Purpose of a Catholic School is to be a Catholic School. Any institution which bears the name Catholic and participates in this mission must find its own specific mission under its maternal shadow. The Catholic school must be of, with and for the church because her purpose, identity and mission proceed from the Communion of the Church. In words of Congregation for Catholic school, the church clearly indicates that the establishment of catholic school is for the mission of the church. It asserts that “To carry out her saving mission, the Church uses, above all, the means which Jesus Christ has given her. She also uses other means which at different times and in different cultures have proved effective in achieving and, promoting the development of the human person. She establishes her own schools because she considers them as a privileged means of promoting the formation of the whole man, since the school is a centre in which a specific concept of the world, of man, and of history is developed and conveyed”.

The Sacred congregation for Catholic School emphasizes catholic school to present itself catholic and states clearly that for this reason only that catholic school has the right to exist. It states the following:

“While acknowledging this duty of the local Churches, the Sacred Congregation believes that now is the opportune moment to offer its own contribution by re-emphasising clearly the educational value of the Catholic school. It is in this value that the Catholic school's fundamental reason for existing and the basis of its genuine apostolate is to be found. “

In line with the above, the great Western Bishop Augustine states “Catholic schools are an extension of the Catholic Church, a cell of the Body of Christ”. Since the church has its mission in evangelization, She establishes her own schools because she considers them as a privileged means of promoting the formation of the whole man, since the school is a centre in which a specific concept of the world, of man, and of history is developed and conveyed. 

In support of the above view, Deacon Keith Fournier, a Deacon of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia asserted that “The Catholic School derives its’ very reason for existence, its’ identity, by living in the Heart of the Church. It finds its missionary assignment only when it sees its placement within the Ark of the Church. Thus, like the Church of which she is an extension, the Catholic school shares in the mission of Jesus Christ”.

To conclude the catholic school does not exist for itself. It owns its existence on the mission of the church that is to evangelize. The existence of catholic is therefore is to inform and educate the whole student, who is an integrated human person, in the teaching, “the mind” of the Catholic Church, thus preparing men and women with a profoundly Catholic Vision of life. Catholic school therefore finds its true justification in the mission of the Church. This justification finds its meaning on an educational philosophy in which faith, culture and life are brought into harmony. Through it, the catholic school evangelizes, educates, and contributes to the formation of a healthy and morally sound life-style among its students. Only by doing this will the Catholic school fulfill its vital mission and has the right to pursue its existence.

Catholic school mission

As mentioned above, Catholic school attaches its meaning to mission of the church. The church herself is clear of her mission for She always and seriously reflects on it. In the Catholic school (1977), she states the Church is constantly deepening her awareness of herself and meditating on the mystery of her being and mission. Thus she is ever rediscovering her living relationship with Christ "in order to discover greater light, energy, and joy in fulfilling her mission and determining the best way to ensure that her relationship with humanity is closer and more efficacious" - that humanity of which she is a part and yet so undeniably distinct. Her destiny is to serve humanity until it reaches its fullness in Christ. Evangelisation is, therefore, the mission of the Church; that is she must proclaim the good news of salvation to all, generate new creatures in Christ through Baptism, and train them to live knowingly as children of God .

In light of the above catholic school as part of the church can not do otherwise, but to evangelize, that is it must proclaim the good news of

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