January 20, 2015 by
Author’s Note: For Catholic Schools Week, I’ve been asked to speak to my parish congregation about why, as parents, we chose to send our kids to Catholic school. While my testimony spoke about our Catholic school specifically, I have changed the name to reflect what I think is common to most Catholic schools. Here was my answer.
I am now married with two
Now, I can recite
At my daughters’ Catholic school,
- a child once shy to speak much in class is soon beaming while reading prayer intentions at the School Mass
- you may receive a smiling email from a teacher telling you your daughter looked up at him and said, “God bless you” because he picked her favorite game in gym class.
- you find parents who tow a tractor hundreds of miles simply to pull a school float in the local parade.
At my daughters’ Catholic school,
- you may find your child spontaneously apologizing at the end of the day for something she said at the beginning of the day simply because of what she learned from the priest’s homily at the School Mass
- you encounter staff, parents and children enthusiastically showing up to pack food for the hungry, rake leaves for the elderly and plant pinwheels for peace
At my daughters’ Catholic school,
- teachers approach you about the right book or exercise for your child, the principal knows your kids and cheers them on by name, and the priest offers wise support at just the right time.
- you may find a child at home thoughtlessly humming a hymn or telling you an interesting fact about St. Benedict, or at the school Talent Show telling corny jokes or belting out Frozen’s “Let It Go”
- staff, parents and students pray for and rally around a spouse who has been sick, a baby soon to be born, or a sixth grader saying goodbye
You see, our Catholic school is more than just a school, it is a deeply invested community. A community. And in a world grown increasingly cold and harsh, a community of faith and warmth is an immeasurably important springboard in these young kids lives. And in ours. Undoubtedly, this school prepares the mind. But by God, it prepares the soul as well. To paraphrase my dad, “Catholic schools are proud of what our kids do, but love them for who they are.”
If you are considering a school community for your child that is rich in academics and rooted in faith, please consider calling, visiting or touring a Catholic school. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed.