Verified Document

Catholic Edu While Secularism May Essay

The community breakdown is one that can be mended, though, with creative community-building programs like the retreat. Retreats can be designed to blend practical learning and the needs of adults with those of the developing child. Graham (1994) emphasizes the need for strong catechesis, which provides the means by which to develop religious communities. The Congregation for Catholic Education (1988) claims, "catechesis takes place within a community living out its faith at a level of space and time not available to a school: a whole lifetime," (p. 55). Thus, the school's role in the community transcends that of the student, that of the parent, and that of the curriculum. By applying Catholic values to academic subjects, catechesis becomes far more than religious education. Catechesis becomes a transformative force in the community. Communities are comprised of individuals, and when each individual is empowered with spiritual tools, the community as a whole benefits. Religious education is one component of the Catholic education that can create trust and bonds between Catholic and non-Catholic members of the community. A Catholic school is by definition a religious institution, or at least one component thereof; and although that role does involve evangelism, the Catholic school does forge bonds with non-Catholic organizations (Congregation for Catholic Education 1988). Especially when local authorities may direct Catholic school curriculum to a great degree, catechesis still takes place to make the religious institution a community builder. "In the context of state schools or non-confessional schools where the civil authorities or...

75).
Therefore, a Catholic school can be considered a faith community both in terms of its internal and external roles and relationships. Internal relationships such as those between staff and students, between Church and school, and between teachers and parents create micro-communities. These Catholic micro-communities foster faith development and encourage lifelong learning and critical thinking. Faith development and catechesis aid individual and collective community growth. A Catholic school must also remember its essential role in part of a greater faith community outside of its borders. By forging ties with other religious groups and community organizations including state schools, the Catholic school can play a positive role in rewriting political, social, and economic futures.

References

Congregation for Catholic Education. (1988). The Religious

Dimension of Education in a Catholic School

Crotty, L., Fletcher, E. & McGrath, J. (1995). Reflections on an emerging religious education curriculum.

English, G. (1992). Religious education: what did you expect?

Graham, J. (1994). Leadership foundations for effective parish-family-school partnership in religious education. Word in Life.

Rossiter, G. (1997). Reflections on retreats in Catholic secondary schools. Word in Life -1997, Vol 45, No 1, pp. 18-28.

Warren, M (n.d.). High schools with a difference. The Living Light.

Sources used in this document:
References

Congregation for Catholic Education. (1988). The Religious

Dimension of Education in a Catholic School

Crotty, L., Fletcher, E. & McGrath, J. (1995). Reflections on an emerging religious education curriculum.

English, G. (1992). Religious education: what did you expect?
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Catholic Church in Spain and the United States
Words: 12567 Length: 40 Document Type: Term Paper

Catholic Church in Spain and the United States The Catholic Church has been a very significant religious and political institution in the Europe. Its origins can be traced to a thousand years when Christianity was itself in its infancy. It was a symbol of colossal authority and was much regarded as an institution that was as similar to the installed governmental mechanism of any nation state. Its power and influence spread

Catholic Church in Spain and the United States
Words: 19318 Length: 70 Document Type: Thesis

Catholic church and public policy have remarked that the members of American clergy in general, without even excepting those who do not admit religious liberty, are all in favour of civil freedom; but they do not support any particular political system. They keep aloof from parties, and from public affairs. In the United States religion exercises but little influence upon laws, and upon the details of public opinion; but it

Religion and Secularism in Turkey
Words: 3751 Length: 11 Document Type: Term Paper

" The Constitution allows rites of worship and religious services and ceremonies. It protects people from being compelled to worship and participate in these religious rites against their will. It forbids the exploitative use of religion, religious feelings or things held sacred for personal or political influence. It insures that one can change his religion or belief by himself or as a group, privately or publicly. The Constitution has these

Intrinsic Extrinsic Religiosity on School Climate
Words: 1982 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

education is struggling to uncover the reasons for continuing levels of academic achievements, and recover its place of world class leadership which it once held. While academic levels in public schools have suffered to the greatest extent over the years, the same cannot be said regarding religious education, in particular catholic schools. These schools continue to produce higher levels of academic achievement, and more students who continue on to

Advancing Democracy in Latin America
Words: 3554 Length: 12 Document Type: Term Paper

However, despite the severe competition, the people of Latin America still hold the traditions of the church close to their hearts and give a lot of respect to religious figures (Jean-Pierre, 1998). The relationship between the church and the government has been very closely bonded. The message coming from the religious quarters has been very finely tuned in line with the policies of the governments as well as the status

Global Changes in the Missiology
Words: 9755 Length: 35 Document Type: Term Paper

" It caused missionaries to deal with peoples of other cultures and even Christian traditions -- including the Orthodox -- as inferior. God's mission was understood to have depended upon human efforts, and this is why we came to hold unrealistic universalistic assumptions. Christians became so optimistic that they believed to be able to correct all the ills of the world." (Vassiliadis, 2010) Missiology has been undergoing changes in recent years

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now