Light of Learning – 2019

Last week – World Youth Day in Panama

· Prominent attitude: joy

Joy - a fruit of the Holy Spirit

- joy of following Christ (discipleship)

- joy of our faith / joy of the Gospel

- joy of Blessed Virgin Mary (Magnificat – “My spirit rejoices in
God my Savior”

- joy of salvation

- joy of liberation from sin and death

- joy in being Catholic

- joy of loving God and neighbor

- joy even in the face of suffering and pain (e.g. the martyrs)

When I visit our Catholic schools, I often see this spirit of joy. As schools of the Gospel, joy should be a hallmark of true Christian communities. We notice this joy in the early Christian communities when we read the Acts of the Apostles. Wherever the disciples went, “there was great joy”, we read in Acts 8:8. Even amid persecution, they continued to be “filled with joy” (Acts 13:52).

Does the message of Jesus bring us joy? Jesus said to the disciples: “I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).

As I mentioned, I often see this spirit of Christian joy in our Catholic schools. That spirit is a good sign that the school is living its Catholic identity. There’s something amiss when schools are bereft of joy, when students are stressed out or filled with anxiety. Sometimes, I believe, undue pressure can be put on students. It can be unhealthy mentally and spiritually. It’s true that students should be challenged to use their talents, to work hard, etc. But sometimes this can go too far. We’re about educating the whole person. That includes the mind and the spirit, “healthy balance.” Education of the mind should not be at the expense of the heart. Good teachers help students to enjoy learning and the discovery of new things. They are mindful of their students’ struggles and seek to help them. They facilitate joy and enthusiasm, not anxiety and depression. Our Catholic schools aim to foster our children’s healthy growth and development: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The education in the faith, the centrality of God and His love in our lives, is the most powerful force for healthy growth and the cultivation of the joy that is a primary characteristic of true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Catholic schools are to be nurturing environments in which young people can grow and prosper at their own pace. This is not about lowering standards or coddling kids. But neither is it about allowing unhealthy or unbalanced expectations. Sometimes I see kids pressured so much by parents or others (e.g. in athletics or in academics) that they seem to be missing out on the joy and spontaneity of childhood. It cannot be that way in our Catholic schools. Can we not be A-ranked schools without sacrificing the joy of learning? Also, what matters most in life is not an “A.” There are other things we must value more in our Catholic schools: faith, integrity, determination, the well-being of our students, creativity, thirst for knowledge, respect, compassion, confidence, kindness, and love. With these virtues and attitudes comes joy.

If the Gospel spirit is alive in our schools, there is a spirit of joy in the community. We must always guard against falling into the trap of a secular academic success culture. We must never put Christ or the dignity of the human person aside or in second place. We don’t just “fit” Christ into the program. He is the vital principle and center, the Teacher, in an authentically Catholic school. When He is, the joy of His Gospel will be evident in the community. Pope Francis says: “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.” Our Catholic schools are to be communities where this holy encounter takes place.

Thank you for your support of our Catholic schools and may God bless you!