Inspiration – Page 5 – Catholic School Chronicle

July 22, 2010August 5, 2010

What Is the Future of Catholicism?

The Patheos website has a very interesting series of articles by prominent Catholic thinkers on the topic “Future of Catholicism.” As Catholic educators, it’s important to have a broad sense of what’s happening in the Church, and these articles offer intelligent insights into where we might be heading, where we ought to be heading, and where we should avoid heading.

Here are some choice quotes from the essays:

The answer, in other words, lies not in writing off popular culture and entertainment as some are inclined to do. Instead, Catholics need to become part of this world and transform it from the inside. – Tony Rossi

Use new media pro-actively; let the Holy Spirit guide you to the allurement of God’s people — as in Hosea 2:14 — in bold and sanctifying contrast to the vast wasteland that clutters the mind and warps the soul. Mount a website, get something on YouTube, pod-cast your sermons, post advice on FaceBook and tweet daily. – Fr. Robert Barron

The Eastern Church has managed nicely with a married clergy for hundreds of years. And I believe the Latin Church will one day adapt the same model: permitting married men to be ordained, but still retaining celibacy as an option (and, most likely, reserving the episcopacy only for those who are celibate, thus ensuring that the Vatican won’t have to contend with the peculiar circumstances of having a Mrs. Pope standing at her husband’s side while he offers a blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s). – Deacon Greg Kandra

Unfortunately, many now know Catholics only by what they oppose: same-sex marriage, women’s ordination, abortion, etc. In the future, let’s be known by what we advocate. Let’s focus on the positive. At the very beginning gushed forth a wellspring of compassionate life so dramatic that centuries haven’t quenched it. Let’s hear that call of Jesus again — to love the “other,” to do justice for the weakest members of our society, to savor the beauties of this world, to serve God magnanimously. – Kathy Coffey

Take a look at all of the essays at the Patheos website.

July 16, 2010August 5, 2010

Inspiring Words for Catholic Educators

Anthony Bryk is the president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. He gave this commencement address for The Alliance for Catholic Education at Notre Dame on July 10, 2010.

April 25, 2010August 5, 2010

A Catholic Teacher Issues a Challenge

What is the biggest challenge you see facing Catholic education today? In the following interview excerpt, Alan Grant of Sts. Peter and Paul School in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, issues a call to active evangelization by Catholic schools:

I guess the biggest challenge that I’d like to pose to those involved in Catholic schools in particular is we need to work out where the Church can find young people and connect with young people. Traditionally I think we’ve been quite lucky that people have come to the Church and the Church has therefore had that opportunity to connect; now, I think it’s more a case of the Church needing to find these young people and find ways to connect with them. I think young people have that desire still, I don’t think that’s changed, and obviously what the Catholic Church is and has to offer is as rich now and as needed now as it has ever been; but I think there’s less opportunity for connection now, and the Church, I think, has to take the initiative and make those connections. We need to take the Church and take it to young people, encourage young people and give young people opportunities to engage with the Church.

How can we as Catholic educators respond to that challenge? Are we making connections with our students? Are we reaching them where they are at? For instance, how many of our schools have a Facebook page? A Twitter account? Are we communicating via text messaging? These new technologies define the world in which our students live and breath each day.

I disagree with Grant that there’s less opportunity for connection now, but I think he’s dead on about the Church needing to be more proactive with young people. What do you think?

Here’s the full interview:

April 14, 2010August 5, 2010

Maddie’s Story: Inspirational Video from an Aspiring Teacher

Maddie hopes to be a Pre-K teacher someday, just like thousands of other college students. What makes Maddie’s hope unique is, as Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story:

My favorite line from the video: “She has broadened what I understand as the Body of Christ.” I hope to see Maddie visiting this site some day as a Catholic educator.

Here are some ideas for using the video in the classroom:

Inspire students to talk about their own limitations and how they can overcome them;
Show it before beginning a unit on the dignity of all human life;
Introduce the video before teaching about the US Bishops’ Pastoral Statement on People with Disabilities.

March 18, 2009April 14, 2010

Heartwarming Video of Life-saving Catholic Teachers

A few weeks ago we wrote how Catholic teachers Kathy Carabine and Robert Casaletto saved the life of six-year-old student Olivia Quigley. This week the Boston Globe follows up on young Olivia and her guardian angels with an extensive story that includes this video interview with Kathy and Robert:

Watch this at Boston.com

Cross posted at One Catholic Life.