Catholic Schools Week, an annual observance sponsored by Catholic schools in our country, will take place from Sunday, Jan. 28, through Saturday, Feb. 3. The theme of this year’s observance is “United in Faith and Community.”
During the week, our schools conduct varieties of events for students, their parents and families, the faculties and the public. Check out the website of the Catholic school located in your area or in your parish for information about activities during Catholic Schools Week.
In the 19th century, the Catholic bishops of our country created Catholic schools to protect the Catholic faith of Catholic children whose education took place in public schools. The dominant faith community in the country, Protestant Christianity, influenced the philosophy of education in those “common schools,” as they were called. The bishops were concerned that the truth taught by the Catholic Church would not be heard by the Catholic children.
Religion and Church Relativism, that is, all the same, all equal, were a focus of the education philosophy in the “common schools.” As far as the bishops were concerned, truth existed only in the Catholic Church, the one true Church. This drove the establishment of Catholic schools as an alternative to the public school.
Catholic schools still are an alternative. The concern of the Catholic bishops in the 19th century about relativism is no longer an issue. However, issues of educational philosophy in public schools make our Catholic schools as necessary as they were to protect the faith of 19th century Catholic children.
The influence of government-mandated education policies that have disregard for the human person created by God is a serious concern.
Politicians influenced by their supporters are mandating policies for schools that have no reference to the uniqueness of the human person created by God. Curricula are mandated that do not teach the truth about the human person.
We receive minimal support from the government for whom we provide an essential service. In the State of New Jersey, there are NO parental choice programs available. We have to do all we can to keep our schools affordable. If you can help, please do not hesitate. Help can be given to a particular school or to the South Jersey Scholarship Fund – 631 Market St., Camden, New Jersey, 08102 – which distributes funds to our Catholic schools to assist with tuition.
Catholic schools are academically excellent. In them, learning goes on. Students are expected to learn. The schools engage the community in which they are located with all sorts of service programs. They look outside their doors to the world for which we have a responsibility. In the schools, every day God is called upon. Prayer is taught, encouraged and celebrated in the classrooms. All religious traditions are respected. Children from other religions and non-Catholic churches are welcomed. Values are taught. The physical development of students takes place through sports programs. A Catholic school educates the WHOLE child, mind, soul and body. This is what is unique about our schools. The role of parents in cooperation with the school is encouraged.
Catholic schools are different in their approach to education. This difference is celebrated and publicized by the annual observance of Catholic Schools Week, during which we show off our schools and all they accomplish for our students. We are blessed with dedicated administrators and teachers who make a significant impact on the lives of children and their families. Yes. A Catholic school is a much-needed alternative to public education. Please, through your charity, help us to keep them affordable and available.
To make a contribution to the South Jersey Scholarship Fund, visit http://bit.ly/SJScholarshipFund.
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D.
Bishop of Camden