THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE MARIST TRADITIONUNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA GRADUATE CERTIFICATE UNIT

MARIST METHODOLOGY IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION

SACRED HEART COLLEGE, SOMERTON PARK

5TH MAY, 2016 4.00 PM - 6.00 PM

PRESENTER: JOHN MCMAHON FMS

THEME 2

Conscientious students

RESOURCES

RESOURCES

OVERVIEW OF TODAY’S SESSION

1. Context

2. Catholic Schools Today

3. Our Marist Tradition

1. CONTEXT

RELIGION IN THE WORLDReligious groups in China – where

Christianity and Buddhism are growing especially strongly among young people – are

starting to puzzle over how to meet the new requirement that

they should merge their doctrines with Chinese culture, as

instructed by President Xi Jinping at the ruling Communist Party's

annual review of its policy on religion. (Rowan Calico, 2016)

IN 100 WORDS, DESCRIBE THE CONTEXT IN WHICH YOU ARE WORKING

E.G. WORLD, SCHOOL, LIFE

MY CONTEXT

John Paul II, Message to the Catholic Educational Association of the United States, 1979

Catholic Education is above all a question of communicating Christ, of helping to form Christ in

the lives of others

Goal of Catholic Education

2. CATHOLIC SCHOOLS TODAY

THE TASK OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

• The task of the Catholic school ‘is fundamentally a synthesis of culture and faith, and a synthesis of faith and life: the first is reached by integrating all the different aspects of human knowledge through the subjects taught, in the light of the Gospel; the second in the growth of the virtues characteristic of the Christian’ (The Catholic School, 1977, N37).

ABOUT THE CONGRESS

• Pope Benedict was hoping to give new stimulus to the Church’s role in education.

• Four themes: 1. Identity and Mission; 2. People involved in Catholic education 3. Formation of Formators 4. Challenges and Outlook

• Focus of handbook Instrumentum Laboris: Evangelisation and human development

KEY EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

• … the major educational challenges faced today by the world’s Catholic schools and universities, in a multicultural society in profound change, can be traced back to … creating a workable model of holistic education for young people, which preserves the institutional identity of the educational community of evangelisation.

How do you respond to this claim? Please write 100 words

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARE PRIMARILY:

1. Communities

2. Educational communities

3. Educating communities of evangelisation

CHALLENGES FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS - 1: IDENTITY

• Identity is linked with mission (challenge: individualistic competition; lack of open dialogue).

• Where Christians are in the minority, the best approach to mission is witness, not proclamation.

CHALLENGES FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS - 2: HOLISTIC EDUCATION

• Learning involves content assimilation, commitment towards self-improvement (cognitive, affective, social, ethical, spiritual and professional) and the common good.

• Learning opportunities for all, good community and formation for staff.

CHALLENGES FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 3: EDUCATION AND FAITH

• Catholic schools are communities of faith and learning.

• Spiritual leadership is valued particularly where there is increasing secularisation of staff.

• Educational institutions are required to work with families by promoting dialogue, participation and shared responsibility.

CHALLENGES FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 4: THE POOR

• Care for the materially poor, those with disabilities and special educational needs.

• Sensitivity to those with relational, cultural and spiritual needs related to the crisis of community.

• Need to speak to the human heart and rekindle the meaning of life.

NUMBERS OF STUDENTS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES

World Population

1971 4 billion

2012 7 billion

0

15

30

45

60

1971 2012

No Students (millions)

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION

(FROM THE CONGRESS)

1. Research - deepening moral and meaning related issues

2. Witness - recognising this primary form of communication

3. Dialogue - searching for mutual understanding

4. Service - making knowledge and skills available to others

5. Inclusion - welcoming the poor and disadvantaged

6. Hope - knowing the Father will give us all we require

3. THE MARIST TRADITION

Photo courtesy Jonathan Doyle

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CHARISM IN YOUR SCHOOL?

100 WORDS PLEASE

WHAT IS A CHARISM?

CHARISMS IN THE CHURCH

‘The Holy Spirit also enriches the entire evangelising Church with different charisms. These gifts are meant to renew and build up the Church. They are not an inheritance, safely secured and entrusted to a small group for safekeeping; rather they are gifts of the Spirit integrated into the body of the Church, drawn to the centre which is Christ and then channelled into an evangelising impulse. A sure sign of the authenticity of a charism is its ecclesial character, its ability to be integrated harmoniously into the life of God’s holy and faithful people for the good of all’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 130).

Marcellin Champagnat Mary, the mother of Jesus

Jesus

The Crib, the Cross, the Altar

PUBLICATIONS

• The Teacher’s Guide (Marist Brothers 1853, Revised 1922, English translation 1931)

• In the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat (1998)

THE TEACHER’S GUIDE PART 1 EDUCATION

CH 1 EDUCATION IN GENERAL CH 2 PHYSICAL EDUCATION CH 3 INTELLECTUAL EDUCATION CH 4 MORAL EDUCATION OF THE SENSIBILITY CH 5 MORAL EDUCATION OF THE WILL CH 6 CATHOLIC EDUCATION - RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CH 7 CATHOLIC EDUCATION - FORMATION CH 8 SOCIAL EDUCATION

IDEAS WORTH NOTING IN ONE CHAPTER OF THE TEACHER’S GUIDE

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

BIBLIOGRAPHYArbués, B. (Ed.) (1998). In the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat A Vision for

Marist Education Today. Rome: The International Marist Education Commission.

Bildt, C. (2016). West must fight ISIS ideology and treat them as terrorists. The Australian.

Callick, R. (2016, 27th April). Religious groups wary of Xi's call for unyielding 'Marxist athiests'. The Australian, p. 10.

Church Documents on Catholic Education 1965-2002. (2004). Strathfield: St Pauls.

Francis, P. (2013). Evangelii Gaudium. Strathfield: St Pauls.Lanfrey, A. (In print). History of the Institute of the Marist Brothers Vol 1. Marist

Brothers. Rome.McMahon, J. (2016). Catholic Schools and Universities: A Global View.

Champagnat, 18(1), 21-27.

Rusk, R. (Ed.) (1931). The Teacher's Guide. Grugliasco: Marist Brothers of the Schools.