CATHOLIC  SCHOOLS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Catholic Schools.”

This week is Catholic Schools Week. Here at St. Mary’s we do what many Catholic Parishes with Catholic Schools do: We have the kids speak at the beginning of each Sunday Mass.  They and we thank those who have supported Catholic Schools down through the years in various ways.

This week there will be programs on different aspects of Catholic Education in our school.   I know I have a High School Mass for St. Mary’s High School on Monday morning - and the whole grammar school has an Elementary School Mass on Thursday. That’s tricky - busing all the kids out to St. John Neumann.

TRICKY REALITY TO TALK ABOUT

Catholic Schools are a tricky topic to talk about.

Many of our people went to and have their kids go to public school or other private schools.

Some of you might be or have taught and worked in public or non-religious or other religion private schools.

Some of you are converts.

Then there are Catholic, Public and Private non-Catholic colleges.

Then there is the cost of Catholic schools.

Then there would be the wondering if this is the best forum for talking about Catholic Schools.

There are only so many Sundays - and the Sunday Homily - should be on Spirituality - Social Justice - Morality - Inspiration - Challenge - Insights - coming out of the readings for that Sunday.  So talking about Catholic Schools from the pulpit - might not be the best of moves.

HISTORY

A first question would be the history of Catholic Schools in the United States.

Dioceses wanted to make sure our kids got a good education in the faith -and counter anti-Catholicism in public schools.

You who like to google things - ought to google that.

Part of our United States history has been the enormous contribution of Catholic Sisters - who worked for very low pay - and it took a long time for these women to become better trained in education and teaching techniques. This is part of the background of numerous Catholic women’s colleges in Maryland and across the country.

New Orleans has some wonderful stories of Ursuline sisters teaching slave women and freed slaves.

After Vatican II, a lot of nuns left the convent - but brought their expertise to wherever they settled.

Many  all women colleges became outstanding centers of learning.  To survive and diversify, many became coed.  I have a niece who went to Marywood in Scranton, Pennsylvania - as well as my sister Peggy who became an IHM nun.

For the history of St. Mary’s schools here in Annapolis, check out Robert Worden’s book on the history of our parish.

QUESTIONS  & ANECDOTES

Religious education for our Catholic Kids in public schools always seems to need improvement.  Do we neglect these kids in parishes that have Catholic schools?

What about adult education and adult preparation for marriages, baptisms, confirmation, knowledge of our faith.

Does Catholic education stop for some after Catholic school?

I heard someone say somewhere along the line, that the age for confirmation will never be agreed upon, because sometimes this is the last time we’ll see some of these kids. Is that true?

I know of one parish that pushes for Adult Catholic and Christian and religious book clubs. Would we simply tell people to think that way and go for it. A book a month for about 10 months - works for fiction and non-fiction books - why not Catholic books?

I heard of one parish that had the following religious Ed program. Parents or a parent came to a church meeting space once a week - during the school year - and they took a catechism class and then they taught that same program in their family. Time wise - schedule wise - would that work. Could that be done through the TV - with discs or whatever will be next.

One pastor told me that he was pastor of a parish in New York City and it had an elementary school.  Then he was changed.  10 years   or so later he came back as pastor of that parish - but in the meanwhile the grammar school was closed.  He saw the difference in leadership in all kinds of groups in the parish. Many had disappeared. So what impact does a Catholic School have on a parish?

I have met people who attend a weeklong conference on the Bible or Theology - every year - usually during the summer - in Chicago or Washington D.C.  The National Catholic Reporter features a 4 to 8 page section two times a year with listings for all kinds of topics and themes and folks sign up. Why not make that part of one’s life or one’s retirement?

TODAY’S READINGS

The bottom line is not Catholic schools for the sake of Catholic Schools.

The bottom line would be Jesus Christ - for all the members of the body of Christ to be and to become the body of Christ as we heard in today’s second reading. In any given parish, some are better being handy. Some are better doing the leg work.  There are many paths. There are many skills. Some are better at being apostles - or prophets - or teachers - or healers - or assistants - or hearers - or listeners.

The message of today’s first reading - is that all of us need to meet on a regular basis to hear the word of God. Ezra in that first  reading gathers everyone at the Water Gate - and reads from daybreak to midday.

It reminds of me what they used to do in cigar factories in Cuba and Florida. Someone would be seated on a raised wooden platform and read out loud during the day  - so the folks would be getting an education.  Notice Ezra the scribe - one who could write - and read to the folks - from a  raised wooden platform.

Notice in today’s gospel,  how Jesus goes into the synagogue and - goes up front. He is handed the scroll of Isaiah and reads that “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed m. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed to go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

Education, Catholic Education, How to education, Philosophical, Psychological, Sociological Education, Humanistic Education  - is good for all of us.

CONCLUSION

I have met about 10 people in my life who have said to me, “What book are you reading right now?”

What book are you reading right now?

I love the conversion moment message in Augustine’s Confessions: “Tolle et lege. Tolle et lege. Take and read, take and read.”

There are great books, CD’s, Documentaries, Programs, Conferences, Movies, that can  update and challenge you as a Catholic - as a human being.

Catholic Schools week is a good week for all of us to hear this - not just school kids. Amen.