Challenges exist to be overcome! Let us be realists, but without losing our joy, our boldness and our hope-filled commitment. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of missionary vigor! (Pope Francis, "Joy of the Gospel," sec. 109).
Pope Francis reminds us that we need to give ourselves a pep talk every now and then. So here's mine:
The life of faith is a thrill, an adventure, a path to happiness, a full life! Isn’t that what we want most for our children? Our families need to be reminded of the joyful life our schools can provide their children when they’re called to worship, pray and serve others within the context of learning and growing up.
In a culture of dreary accommodation and low expectations, our parents need to hear anew the evangelical vision of our last three popes for our youth, challenging youth to aim for greatness in their lives, calling them to holiness, proposing that they become “cultural revolutionaries” (Francis)--courageous enough to live out the gospel, to strive for virtue, and to not be “conformed to this age, but transformed by the renewal of their minds", so that they "may seek what is good, holy and perfect--the will of God.” (Romans 12:2).
Kids want to be held to a high standard! As I type this in the middle of June, I am looking through the window of my school office at teenagers doing summer conditioning for fall sports. It's hot and muggy outside, they're red faced and sweaty, and they're..... smiling. They are happy to be pushed, happy to be preparing for the season. There's a fundamental insight here: kids want their lives to matter, and if our schools challenge them to put some "skin in the game" in the practice of their faith, they'll respond with enthusiasm.
Kids want to be held to a high standard! As I type this in the middle of June, I am looking through the window of my school office at teenagers doing summer conditioning for fall sports. It's hot and muggy outside, they're red faced and sweaty, and they're..... smiling. They are happy to be pushed, happy to be preparing for the season. There's a fundamental insight here: kids want their lives to matter, and if our schools challenge them to put some "skin in the game" in the practice of their faith, they'll respond with enthusiasm.
Catholic schools are the future of our Church! According to 2012 data from the Center of Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) of Georgetown University, “millenial” adults who once attended Catholic elementary schools are almost seven times more likely to attend weekly mass (34%) and those who attended Catholic high schools almost eight times more likely (39%) to attend weekly mass than those who attended neither (5%).
Our parents need to be reminded of the transforming power of Catholic schools in the life of our kids through using consistent, evocative story telling and messaging. We have good news to share!
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