What is a Catholic School?

Last week we asked the difficult questions: What is a Catholic School? What makes a school Catholic? Here is a stab at answering these questions.

• Has at its heart the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

• Builds an environment of care and concern for others that is rooted in Catholic social teaching.

• Creates a safe and happy learning environment where every child is encouraged and enabled to develop to their full potential as human beings, made in the image and likeness of God.

• Seeks educational excellence

• Is an inclusive and respectful community, welcoming children of all denominations and of none.

• Acknowledges the role of parents as the first teachers in the way of faith and provides opportunities for their participation in the life of the school.

• Works in partnership with parents and the parish community to keep the light of faith burning brightly.

• Provides religious education programmes that confirm and deepen the child’s understanding of the Catholic faith so  that every child will be able to articulate their faith.

• Nurtures the child’s appreciation and understanding of the sacramental life of the Church.

• Displays the symbols of our rich Catholic faith tradition.

• Spends time as a school community in reflection, prayer and ritual, celebrating the Eucharist and other Sacraments to develop the spiritual life of each person in the school community.

Based on Vision 08: A Vision for Catholic Education in Ireland

(A Pastoral Letter of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference).