Last night my parish school held its Spring Concert. Everyone got dressed up: 3rd grade boys in crooked bow ties, 5th grade girls in springy Easter dresses, 7th grade boys in manly jackets and sober ties, and 8th grade girls in elegant evening gowns. It is almost Easter, and while two 8th grade girls sang Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Dona eis requiem in the spirit of passiontide, many pieces portrayed the glory of Easter rebirth. Everybody was there, of course, and no parent would miss their own children singing, or playing a violin, or swinging a handbell, on our little auditorium stage. School concerts and plays are like family reunions for the school community, where even bitterly separated spouses share a room for an hour, putting aside animosity as their children sing with grace and beauty.
The Catholic school is the most important apostolate of the Catholic parish, after the sacraments themselves. No other service organization or ministry or social group reaches the depths and attains the heights of Catholicism like the parish school. Studies show that the parish school is three times more likely to surface priestly vocations in a parish than even the most exciting youth program.
Catholic schools can be the pastor’s greatest consolation, or they can be the pastor’s greatest frustration. A Catholic school can easily become quite independent of its parish, and it’s the pastor’s job to keep their schools faithfully Catholic. In many urban dioceses, the parishes are failing while their schools are flourishing, but not necessarily as Catholic schools. These have become schools with a parish attached, rather than parishes with a school attached.
The parish, however, must be the mother and inspiration of the school. If the parish fails in that maternal role, the schools gradually cease to be Catholic. They become simply less expensive private schools, usually controlled by small groups of determined parents rather than inspired by the pastor. A pastor can restore the Catholic identity of his school, but it will cost him dearly. To maintain the Catholic identity of his school will require much work and no little suffering from the pastor. But if he manages to do that, the school will be the parish’s greatest blessing and among the pastor’s greatest consolations. Bishops and pastors are tempted to back off when determined parents and teachers move their schools toward the world and away from the Gospel. But a parish school is worth fighting for, and if the fight is won, it becomes the greatest source of positive energy for the parish.
The final number in last night’s concert was sung by all 90 students, who lined up along the perimeter of the auditorium. Our dear music teacher stood in the middle, facing the 270-degree arc of bright faces. As the children sang Dona nobis pacem in rounds, and the teachers glowed with love, and the parents smiled from head to foot. I too melted with affection, for the little boys and girls I used to know are now young gentlemen and ladies, pouring forth truth and beauty from innocent hearts. Well, not completely innocent, of course, but they are well on their way to heaven!
The Catholic school is the most important apostolate of the Catholic parish, after the sacraments themselves. No other service organization or ministry or social group reaches the depths and attains the heights of Catholicism like the parish school. Studies show that the parish school is three times more likely to surface priestly vocations in a parish than even the most exciting youth program.
Catholic schools can be the pastor’s greatest consolation, or they can be the pastor’s greatest frustration. A Catholic school can easily become quite independent of its parish, and it’s the pastor’s job to keep their schools faithfully Catholic. In many urban dioceses, the parishes are failing while their schools are flourishing, but not necessarily as Catholic schools. These have become schools with a parish attached, rather than parishes with a school attached.
The parish, however, must be the mother and inspiration of the school. If the parish fails in that maternal role, the schools gradually cease to be Catholic. They become simply less expensive private schools, usually controlled by small groups of determined parents rather than inspired by the pastor. A pastor can restore the Catholic identity of his school, but it will cost him dearly. To maintain the Catholic identity of his school will require much work and no little suffering from the pastor. But if he manages to do that, the school will be the parish’s greatest blessing and among the pastor’s greatest consolations. Bishops and pastors are tempted to back off when determined parents and teachers move their schools toward the world and away from the Gospel. But a parish school is worth fighting for, and if the fight is won, it becomes the greatest source of positive energy for the parish.
The final number in last night’s concert was sung by all 90 students, who lined up along the perimeter of the auditorium. Our dear music teacher stood in the middle, facing the 270-degree arc of bright faces. As the children sang Dona nobis pacem in rounds, and the teachers glowed with love, and the parents smiled from head to foot. I too melted with affection, for the little boys and girls I used to know are now young gentlemen and ladies, pouring forth truth and beauty from innocent hearts. Well, not completely innocent, of course, but they are well on their way to heaven!
Paloma and Brigid playing their recorders at our concert last night
RSS Feed