Happy Catholic Schools Week! This week is a time full of many activities and energy as we honor and highlight the many ways our schools fulfill the Church’s mission to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,” (Matthew 28:19, ESV). 

Our events this week also provide an opportunity to open our doors to the broader community to “come and see” what is taking place in our schools, with many using this week to invite families to consider your school for their children’s education. Today, I would propose that our many events this week, our open houses, and recruitment efforts provide an incredible opportunity for evangelization of both current families and prospective ones. How so, you might be asking?

As we highlight the educational experience Catholic schools uniquely offer, a perfect starting point would be to highlight what today might be one of the most counter-cultural convictions we hold for education especially when compared to public education: “Parents are the principal and first educators of their children,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1653). Recognizing the primacy of parents, the Church declares that the Catholic school “owes its existence to the initiative of the family and of the Church, long before it was undertaken by the State,” (Divini Illius Magistri, #77). The family is our raison d’etre and as such, the Catholic school is “by its very nature an institution subsidiary and complementary to the family and to the Church…not in opposition to, but in positive accord with…constituting one sanctuary of education,” (Ibid). 

The reality of the times we are in is that more and more families, and at times even, staff in our Catholic schools, of no fault of their own, have not been presented the opportunity to understand the depth of the Church’s conviction on the primacy of parents as the first educators. Herein, though, lies the evangelical opportunity for a first kerygma (from the Greek κήρυγμα), that is, a first “proclamation” to parents of their primary role in the education and formation of children. This then serves as an entry to point to then engaging in sharing with them the ultimate kerygma—the proclamation of salvation through Jesus Christ. 
Imagine for a moment if our major touchpoints with parents—current and prospective—at assemblies, open houses, newsletters and welcome letters started with a form of the following: 

“We’re so glad you’re here! But before we get into talking about what we will do for your children, let us tell you what we believe and how we see the world, because this will permeate everything we do: How we interact with you, how your children will be taught and formed, what we will ask of you, and what drives our work day in and day out here at our school.”

“As a Catholic school we believe that you are the principal and first educators of your children, and that the family is their first and most important school. Your children have been given to you by God the creator, who created us out of love to live in a relationship of love with him and one another.”

“The mission of your family then is first to bring your children to come to know God through the person of Jesus Christ, who we believe came to this world to rescue us from slavery to a life that leads to death, granting us the ability to know and experience abundant life, and respond to his invitation to live in relationship with him and his Church.”

“We believe our school exists to empower you as parents and to support your mission as a family. We desire to assist you in helping your children to know the joy of living in a relationship with Jesus Christ, to grow in wisdom and virtue, and to discover the mission they have been made for as young men and women created in God’s image and likeness.  We commit to ensuring that every aspect of our school program is animated by this mission.”
“We believe our school cannot fulfill its duty to help bring children to Jesus if not for bringing them to Jesus through your family. Thus, for as long as you are members of our school community, you will receive the invitation to live a family life that shows children models of relationship with Jesus himself and the riches of a family culture that nurtures a relationship with Jesus and with his Church. Even families who do not share our religious faith, as equally beloved members of our community, are called to lives of virtue and truth.”

“We believe families open to the gifts our school has to offer will find a pearl of great price. You don’t have to be a perfect Catholic to benefit from what we have to offer. You might even have questions about our beliefs, and that’s okay. We welcome the chance to share our love for Jesus and the truth, beauty, and goodness of our faith with you. The only thing we ask in return as members of our community is that you open your heart to the gifts present here for you and don’t work against our Catholic mission and teachings. This is the foundation of who we are and what you will find in our school. We will not compromise on this, and we welcome you fully into it.” 

I have often found that there is great charity in providing abundant clarity. If we truly believe with the Church that parents are the principal and first educators of their children, then one way we can honor this is by being lovingly-clear about the mission: their mission as parents and our mission as a school. Our educating mission has something to offer to all who in good faith are open to its gifts and with a well-founded hope are able to support the aims of the school. I have witnessed families who even if not fully connected with our faith or nominally connected to the Church, experience being transformed by Jesus as part of a Catholic school community. The common denominator: someone clearly and lovingly invited them to consider the mission of their family and of the school. I have already begun to hear of many stories of conversions and transformations coming out of schools in the Archdiocese of Portland. Praise God!

However, we also must recognize that what we have to offer may not be for everyone. Inevitably, there will be some who on hearing this will say, “This isn’t what we want.” Let us not be discouraged if this happens, for one way we honor the primacy of parents is also by honoring their freedom to choose what’s best for their children even if that means that they arrive at the conclusion that our school is not it. This is easier said than done, for the fear of losing, especially when we’re trying hard to grow our school, is very real and present. However, these are moments to turn to the Lord in surrender and trust that he will reward our fidelity. 

Therefore, let us heed the words of St. Paul to St. Timothy:

“…fan into flame the gift of God…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord…I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me,” (2 Timothy 1:7-8,12; ESV).