Workshops on understanding the ethos of Catholic schools

"Catholic Education is, above all, a question of communicating Christ, of helping to form Christ in the lives of others. The cause of Catholic Education is the cause of Jesus Christ and of His Gospel at the service of humankind." Pope John Paul II

Growing Leaders Workshops
Mathematics Literacy Programme
Leadership Booster Workshops
Religious Education Workshops
Orientation Workshops for New Teachers

What makes a school Catholic?

What makes a school Catholic is the subject of much ongoing debate - hence the need to explore and come to an understanding of what constitutes the distinctive ethos of a Catholic school.
A Catholic school is centred in Jesus Christ. We follow Jesus Christ and are inspired by his understanding of the human person. The liberating teachings of Jesus impel Catholic schools to be agents of transformation. This is the great adventure of Catholic education. We do not provide education for society as it is, but for society as it should be, as envisioned in Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom of God.

 

 

Affecting and inspiring learners' lives

Important for many Catholic schools is the particular charism of the religious congregation associated with the school. Motivated as they were by the teachings of Jesus, the lives of the founders of these congregations were invariably marked by compassion, service and outreach to those who were poor and overlooked in society. Some religious congregations active in our two dioceses are deeply involved in imparting the charism of their order to their school communities.
We share the Good News with our learners in ways that will profoundly affect their lives. A Catholic school gives learners opportunities to explore the answers which faith provides for the questions of life, and for them to encounter the love and mercy of God. Faced with the pressures of our consumerist, competitive and materialist society, and bombarded with messages about what counts as success, they will go through life empowered by Gospel values of sharing, simplicity, service, littleness, magnanimity and solidarity, and with a sense of purpose: to build the kingdom of God. Our world will be different because of who our learners become.

 

The need for effective formation programmes in ethos

Contending with the powerful socialising influence of the media and a pervasive individualistic success ethic, a Catholic school can all too easily lose sight of Gospel values and Catholic teachings such as the Common Good and the Primacy of the Poor, and end up abdicating the purpose of its existence. This is why it is of deep concern to many in Catholic education that Catholic schools have a thorough understanding of their ethos. This concern was uppermost in the minds of the leaders of religious congregations when they established the Catholic Schools Board. The same concern is reflected in the Direction Statements of the National Catholic Schools Congress. The Congress called for effective formation programmes which will create awareness of ethos and allow all members of the school community to internalise the ethos.

Ethos Formation Programmes

The Catholic Schools Office can assist schools with ethos formation programmes. We can tailor presentations and workshops which share the call and vision of Catholic education for the staff, parents, learners or board of your school. Contact Us about this workshop today!

Catholic Ethos, Pastoral Care & Religious Education
Assistance to RE Teachers

The CSO wants to see Religious Education flourishing in schools.Contact us today - we would love to assist you with any of the following:

  • Drawing up a Religious Education policy
  • Compiling your RE curriculum, with resources
  • Planning liturgical celebrations
  • Mini workshops to assess your RE requirements
  • Any other aspect of RE in your school
Advice & Guidence
  • Salary administration
  • Workplace skills development
  • Employment equity
  • Conditions of service
  • Employment contracts
  • Provident Fund administration
  • Assistance with labour relations issues
  • Other HR and Legal support
Advertising Vacancies
  • Email us details of employment vacancies you have at your school
  • We will advertise them on this website and around the Catholic schools network
Assistance with Outreach
  • We can assist with ideas for community service and outreach
  • We run a day for learner outreach groups active in our schools, such as the Marist Co-workers, Lasallians, Young Dominicans, Serviam, the Edmund Rice Society, and for schools who would like to start such groups
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