The following post is contributed by Ronald D. Fussell, Ed.D, Associate Superintendent of the Diocese of Manchester, NH. Dr. Fussell is a frequent presenter on the topic of lay education formation and preparing lay educators for ministry in Catholic education.
The formula was simple. Catholic schools flourished in the United States over the span of centuries simply by providing students with an essential human formation deeply rooted in Gospel values and lived in encounters with others. In previous generations, those encounters occurred when Catholic schools were primarily staffed by women and men religious. It was through their great sacrifice and authentic faith witness that students came to know Christ. And as our country grew, these pioneers in Catholic education laid the foundation for the most effective system of schools we have ever known.
Amid the contemporary challenges of a pervasively relativistic society which is rife with distraction all around us, Catholic schools are more important than ever. However, the presence of teaching religious in our Catholic school communities has all but disappeared. And through it all, our lay educators and leaders have emerged as the primary professional stakeholders in our school communities.
How will our schools preserve their Catholic identity and honor the living legacy left by the religious of previous generations? One important way will be through the faith formation of lay Catholic school educators. When schools were primarily staffed by religious, most lived in community, and their faith formation could be safely assumed. Now, as lay educators take their place as the primary professional stakeholders in their school communities, we must be mindful of how they will be formed in their professional faith to serve the needs of students.
There are many challenges to Catholic education to be successfully navigated in the coming years. And as public education continues to adapt and evolve to meet its challenges, the temptation exists to simply model Catholic education after public education. But if we follow this path, what compelling reason would parents have to choose Catholic education? The answer is right in front of us – we must proclaim, with passion and excitement, the distinctive Catholicity of our schools! This requires a thoughtful and deliberate approach to preparing lay educators for a ministry in Catholic education.
