"The teaching mission of the Church comes from Christ himself."

Dear Parishioners,

With the start of the school year, I wanted to share the Church's approach toward education.  The Catholic Church teaches that the duty of educating children rests primarily with the parents. “Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children in the faith, prayer and all the virtues. They have the duty to provide as far as possible for the physical and spiritual needs of their children.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2252) In his last words to the apostles, Jesus gave them a mission:  "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."  (Mt 28:19-20)  

Thus, the teaching mission of the Church comes from Christ himself. The responsibility for fulfilling that mandate passes on unchanged to the bishops and to all Catholics.  Within each Catholic diocese, the diocesan bishop is its principal teacher. The teaching authority of the Catholic Church, called the Magisterium, lies with all of the bishops who are led by the pope and guided by the Holy Spirit.   The Catholic Church, therefore, has the divine right and duty to safeguard, transmit, and celebrate the saving Gospel of our Good Teacher, Jesus Christ.  The Church effectively and concretely embraces her mission in a myriad of ways, not the least of which is her work in the field of education.

The pope and bishops are the authoritative teachers in the Church.  They are assisted by clergy, religious, and lay men and women who serve as educators and catechists in Catholic institutions, including elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, seminaries and parishes.  Catechesis is the act of handing on the Word of God intended to inform the faith community and candidates for initiation into the Church about the teachings of Christ transmitted by the Apostles.  It also involves the lifelong effort of forming people into witnesses to Christ and opening their hearts to the spiritual transformation given by the Holy Spirit.  

Now parents are the primary educators of their children, and the choice of schools for their education must be made by the parents.  Their primary obligation toward their children is to get them to heaven.  The Church assists parents in that obligation.  For the goal of each life on earth is to know, love and serve God here and to be happy with Him in heaven.  Thus, the purpose of Catholic institutions and schools are to help the students keep that focus and offer assistance every day throughout the day to meet that goal.  Taking the root word, "Educare" - to form or mold, the Church is interested in forming the whole person.  Rather than teaching each topic in isolation, She incorporates each topic (grammar, arithmetic, music, geometry, etc.) into the formation of the student through truth, goodness, and beauty.  As St. Augustine says, “The soul grows by learning.” 

May this school year be a source of blessing for our teachers, students, administrators, and parents.  Keeping in mind this quote from Pope Benedict XVI, "A good school provides a rounded education for the whole person.  And a good Catholic school, over and above this, should help all its students to become saints."

Be Saints!

Fr. Luke Fleck