Mission Passionate Catholic Education
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Why do Catholic schools exist?
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We exist to give witness to
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.All Catholic schools bearing the Catholic name share a common mission that flows from the heart of Jesus' words to his disciples: "Go and make disciples of all nations." Over centuries the Church engaged in teaching as a means to bring men and women to encounter Jesus and - through a relationship with him and his Church - to discover the answer to life's greatest questions:Why do I exist?For what was I created?What defines my identity?Why is there something rather than nothing?Why does evil exist?What, if anything, has God done about evil?How am I to live my life?What will bring me happiness?Today, the educational labors of the Church continue to offer the answers to these questions in a special way through Catholic schools. The Church's charter for Catholic schools is not merely to instruct students that they may attain academic and career success. In fact, we believe these aims are too low and alone do not fully honor those seeking the benefit of a Catholic education. Rather, the Church's timeless charter for education is to assist parents, the primary educators of children, in (1) leading their children to come to know and be transformed by Jesus Christ, (2) assisting their children in growing in wisdom and virtue by acquiring the knowledge of that which is true, good, beautiful and just, and (3) preparing their children for the mission for which they have been uniquely created (sainthood) and that will allow them to attain the end for which they were created (heaven).As such, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon exist to give witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As apostolates to the Church, Catholic schools proclaim the salvation of Jesus Christ, exercising His Mission to teach (Mt. 28:19) by providing Mission Passionate Catholic Education in support of the family.
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What is Mission Passionate Catholic Education?
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"Mission Passionate Catholic Education" is the phrase used in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon to describe the universal standard, defining features, and essential characteristics of Catholic education and Catholic school institutions. It is meant to provide all Catholic schools - parish, archdiocesan, and independent - and their pastors, leadership, teachers, and parents with a clear unifying vision of what, in the heart and mind of the Catholic Church, must be true for a Catholic school to fulfill its mission.
As the "father of the Church in its entirety," the Archbishop of Portland in Oregon has a right and responsibility according to Church law to ensure that Catholic schools are delivering on the essential aims of the Church's charter for education. Divided into "Mission Indicators" and "Defining Characteristics," "Mission Passionate Catholic Education" sets to provide a clear set of unifying expectations for all Catholic schools in the territory of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, with special care and attention provided for those parish and archdiocesan schools that operate directly under the Archbishop's jurisdiction.
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Indicators and defining characteristics
of mission passionate CATHOLIC education -
