Leaders in Catholic education focus on new evangelisation

18/06/2012

More than 1000 pastors and educators from Catholic Diocese across NSW and ACT attended the conference

Archbishop Bruguès said that Catholic educators need to recognise both the humanistic and formative nature of Catholic schools

Archbishop Bruguès said that educators need to recognise both the humanistic and formative nature of Catholic schools

Over 1,000 Catholic pastors and school leaders in Catholic Education from NSW and the ACT, particularly the Diocese of Parramatta, Broken Bay, Sydney and Wollongong gathered at Rosehill Gardens on Thursday 14 June for a day of reflecting, sharing and strengthening schools as centres of the new evangelisation.

Hosted by Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, the day included keynote addresses from Archbishop Jean‑Louis Bruguès OP, secretary of the congregation for Catholic Education and Professor Richard Rymarz from the University of Alberta. Participants also had a choice of workshops focused on the topic of new evangelisation.

In introducing the day, Bishop Anthony made reference to the 2007 joint pastoral letter of the Bishops of NSW and the ACT, Catholic Schools at a Crossroads which called upon Catholic schools today to be centres of the new evangelisation.

'[The Bishops] asked the whole Catholic community to join them in recommitting to Catholic schooling in the 21st century, while challenging all those involved to dedicate themselves to ensuring that our schools are truly Catholic in their identity and life, enable students to achieve high levels of Catholic religious literacy and practice, and are led and staffed by people who will contribute to the mission,' said Bishop Anthony.

'Living and working at the centre of the Church, Archbishop Bruguès is uniquely placed to offer an international perspective on the challenges of making our schools centres of the new evangelisation,' he said. 'He knows the situation in countries alike and different to ours, what has worked or failed in them.'

In his address, Archbishop Bruguès OP outlined the current situation of Catholic education across the world and the role of the Catholic school.

'The Catholic school is essentially a school with a sense of curiosity, interested in all the various forms of knowledge and the multiple dimensions of human culture,' said Bruguès. 'Catholic schools aim at excellence: excellence of knowledge, excellence of its pedagogy, and excellence in transmission.'

In speaking about the changing nature of today’s world, Bruguès feared Catholic schools were at the risk of becoming irrelevant if they favoured nostalgia over evolution.

'Former models which worked in the past have little relevancy nowadays,' said Bruguès. 'Indeed, pedagogy is a matter which is by nature, in constant evolution: one can no longer teach today in the same way as 40 or even 20 years ago. Therefore a Catholic school must adapt to these evolutions and even ‑ why not - anticipate upon them.'

In identifying the way forward in responding to these changes, Bruguès said that Catholic educators needed to recognise both the humanistic and formative nature of Catholic schools.

'Humanism is a good thing, it is even absolutely necessary, but it is not enough,' he said. 'The educational mission of the church goes back to its origins. Her concern for the formation of young people has been as such as to make her dedicate her best sons and daughters to this service.

'Catechesis is everybody's business inside the school. Christianity has given birth to a wonderful culture to be witnessed in philosophy, literature, music, architecture, painting and has given rise to an art of living and a wisdom which stand as a peak in world history,' Bruguès said.

'The choice to enrol in a Catholic school should then necessarily imply an initiation to this wisdom and culture.'

Archbishop Bruguès acknowledged that educational institutions across the world are suffering the same social, economic and political pressures but the 'time of the teachers' has a bright future ahead.

'I know that your profession is not an easy one,' he said. 'Yet it remains the most beautiful job in the world. Indeed, it is thanks to you that memory prepares its future, and mankind is born to itself.'

Executive director of schools, Greg Whitby, said that the day was a wonderful opportunity, at the invitation of Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, for education and school staff to come together across the state and interstate, with the focus on the evangelising role of Catholic schools.

In his response to Archbishop Bruguès address, Greg said Catholic schools in Australia are well placed to guide young people to thrive and contribute in a positive and meaningful way.

'Now, more than ever, young people need and desire a connection to God – they search for a spiritual home,' said Greg. 'You have encouraged us today, as Catholic educators, to celebrate and witness to our rich religious and cultural heritage in the formation of our Catholic students and the awakening of our non-Catholic students to the wisdom and beauty of our faith.'

Professor Richard Rymarz provided the second keynote address for the day and focused on providing some practical strategies and explore creative ways in strengthening Catholic schools as centres of the new evangelisation.

'A revitalised religious education in Catholic schools can make an enormous contribution to the new evangelisation if it can explore the interface between the legitimate questions of young people and the Christian message,' said Professor Rymarz.

'I am stressing the need for Catholic schools to think much more seriously and much more creatively about ways in which they can provide support to those who wish to learn more about or to live the Christian life more fully.'

(left) Very Rev Chris de Souza EV VG; Greg Whitby; Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop Jean-Louis Bruguès OP, Bisop Peter Ingham, Bishop Peter Comensoli, Prof Richard Rymarz, Dan White.