Articles by Kimberly

Across the country, schools are swapping out a secular culture and curriculum for the Church’s longstanding education tradition, transforming whole school and parish communities and bringing Catholic families closer to Christ. Catholics everywhere are taking notice—and wondering if change is possible at their school. It is possible. And many pastors, principals, and other school leaders are feeling called to be the impetus for that change. But what steps should they take to begin such a monumental undertaking?

Great teachers make great schools that make great learners. The opposite is also true.

The way forward for the American Catholic Church can be found in small, but vibrant, communities across the country where Catholic schools, having rediscovered the Church's education tradition, are cultivating a strong Catholic counterculture in partnership with families and parishes. This is possible everywhere. Our schools can lead the way.

In observance of World Down Syndrome Day, let's celebrate the good and holy work of three Catholic schools that admit children with disabilities—not begrudgingly, but as a core part of their mission as an extension of the Catholic Church. These schools have created beautiful Catholic communities rooted in the saving truth of Christ’s love for humanity.

Catholic schools that are serious about offering a faithfully Catholic education need to find ways to incorporate beauty into their culture, curriculum, and campus, regardless of their size and budget.

Schools across the country are reclaiming the Church’s educational tradition at a moment of renewed interest in Catholic education among American Catholics. Leaders of the movement credit more than 40 years of efforts by Catholic parents, homeschool groups, independent schools—and the Holy Spirit. Today, more than a quarter of Catholic dioceses are restoring a Catholic mission, curriculum, and pedagogy at their schools.

Before Karol Wojtyla felt called to become a priest, he aspired to be an actor. As a young man, he delighted in bringing stories to life in front of live audiences. Dramatic storytelling so thoroughly captivated his imagination that, during the Nazi occupation that made it dangerous for Poles to engage in patriotic and religious activities, he formed an underground theater group and performed plays in people’s homes in secret.

“The true, the good, and the beautiful” is a phrase that is increasingly familiar to families seeking an alternative to progressive education. While it is used by some secular schools, it takes on special meaning at Catholic schools. That’s because Catholics believe that truth, goodness, and beauty reflect the “infinite perfection” of God, who is the Creator and Lord of our lives. Catholic schools that take formation seriously are intentional about offering a culture, curriculum, and campus rooted in “the true, the good, and the beautiful,” aimed at drawing students closer to God. The goal is to train the hearts and minds of children to love what God loves and to want to imitate His infinite perfection in their love for others.

“If you walk into the school chapel on any given morning, you will see many boys spending quiet time with the Blessed Sacrament,” says Joe Cardenas.

This is not the result of a mandatory prayer policy, but a 53-year-old program that helps students choose the good by engaging teachers in the formation of students in a personal way.

Children are keenly aware of their smallness and dependence on others. Their days are organized by adults, but they have an interior life all their own that is filled with wonder about the world around them. They are naturally attracted to goodness, courage, and adventure. As they navigate through childhood, they encounter different people—in real life and through stories—whose attitudes and experiences help them develop a sense of their own identity. That’s why, beginning at a young age, it’s important to give children the opportunity to be inspired by the extraordinary lives of the Saints.