“Last week I mentioned a book that our faculty have been reading throughout the year in Renewing Catholic School: How to Regain a Catholic Vision for a Secular Age, and wish to expound on chapter 9 and building a school community. I again cannot say enough about this rich book that I believe every family should read.
At the heart of this chapter, we see the need to build a community steeped in joy; genuine, deep, attractive, confident JOY. Reflecting on this, Jesus’ first public miracle is Cana whereby “it was not men’s grief, but their joy Christ visited” (p. 97).
If we are to build up a school community in joy, we have to do so in a radical way, in a good way. “Our intellectual heritage is the pursuit of wisdom, virtue, and the transcendental qualities of truth, beauty, and goodness…” (p. 100). Being a school community is radical when we think about it, and yet, it is a necessary part of formation, because our final end is heaven.
The philosophical roots of our entire civilization rest on the principle that things act according to their final end. “When we aim short of that in the practical mission of our schools, we will suffer and break apart” (p. 100). Moreover, when we remain short-sighted in our mission, communities fracture, joy wanes, and schools close – in that order. Let us not lose sight of the communal mission we share together.
I want to encourage everyone to continue to enter into our Cultura Incarnationis as we embody our Catholic Classical Education together.”
Vere resurrexit! — Headmaster Eric Schreiber
St. John Paul II Classical School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic classical schools serving Montessori preschool and elementary through high school. They have open enrollment and provide an individualized education in an integrated faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.
