CATHOLIC SCHOOL S
It is not news to any of us how in the past 50 years the landscape within the Church and our larger society has shifted drastically. THE DAYS OF A COMMON CATHOLIC WORLDVIEW HAVE DIMINISHED OR, IN SOME PLACES, DISAPPEARED OUTRIGHT. IN THE END, THE ONES WHO TRULY SUFFER ARE THE CHILDREN. IT IS FOR THEM THAT WE MUST PRAYERFULLY WORK TO RENEW THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL, TO FOSTER A CULTURE IN WHICH CHILDREN CAN EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF CHRISTIANIT Y AND, THEREFORE, BE BEAUTIFULLY FORMED INTO THEIR TRUEST IDENTITIES AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF A LOVING GOD.
SUCH A FORMATION DOES NOT JUST HAPPEN. SUCH A CULTURE MUST BE INTENTIONALLY CREATED, CULTIVATED AND NURTURED. IT IS PRECISELY HERE, WHERE THE T WO WORLDS OF HOME AND SCHOOL MUST CONVERGE, THAT PROMOTING THE RICHEST FORMATION OF A CHILD’S BODY, MIND AND SOUL IS POSSIBLE. ONLY IN SUCH A CULTURE WILL LITTLE ONES COME TO KNOW WHO THEY TRULY ARE. AS A CATHOLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR 20 YEARS NOW, I HAVE SEEN THE FLOURISHING CHILDREN EXPERIENCE WHEN THEIR HOMES AND THEIR SCHOOL BEAT WITH THE SAME HEART, THE HEART OF JESUS CHRIST! THIS IS WHAT WE CALL VIRTUE EDUCATION — TRAINING ALL ASPECTS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN TO FIND GOD IN ALL EXPERIENCES, EMOTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS.
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A R C HDIOCE SE OF DET ROI T
S I S TER J OHN D OMI NI C RA S MU S S EN is the co-founder of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, where she serves as the bursar general and oversees the financial growth of the community and schools. Sister has also been involved in Catholic education for more than 35 years as a teacher and administrator.
SR. JOHN DOMINIC RASMUSSEN, WRITER • MADI MYERS COOK, PHOTOGRAPHER • CAITLIN HOTTINGER, ILLUSTRATOR
