Catholic Schools - Dividends for Life

As our parish, and nation, begins her annual Catholic Schools celebration, I have to recognize the great dividends our parish (and community) receive as a result of our parish school.

A dividend is a return on an investment. Well, we all know that Catholic education is a financial investment made by many people: the parents who send their children; the teachers and staff who sacrifice higher paying jobs; the entire parish who, committed to Catholic education, supports the operation of our parish school. The investment is there - what about the dividends?

ABSOLUTELY! Want proof? Just take one small example from last night's 4pm Mass. As I held up the Sacred Host and Chalice just before Holy Communion and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God..." A small child somewhere in church said out loud: "That's Jesus!" Truer words were never spoken. ("And a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6) That is one of the greatest dividends of our investment in Catholic Schools: Faith.

Our Catholic faith is not just taught in our classrooms, but in the very way in which the school is arranged: regular Masses and prayer services which reveal the beautiful liturgy of the Church, wither her prayers, songs, readings and preaching. The many outreach activities to help the poor and needy are incorporated into our school lives (like the monthly "helping hands," Jump for Heart, the Holy Childhood Association, and so many other special projects we do to help and reach out to others). Our teachers and principal strive to live their faith, and it shows in the kind, respectful and loving relationships you can see they have will every one of our students.

Another dividend of Catholic schools is knowledge. Catholic schools are known for their dedication to excellence in every field of study. Teachers are knowledgeable about their subjects, and students progress quickly in a positive, safe environment. Certainly one of the aids to this is the individualized instruction we are able to offer our students. With a student-teacher ratio of 16-1, we are able to offer every student the individual attention he/she needs to succeed. Just look at our graduates, who consistently place on the honor rolls in middle & high school, who excel, not only academically, but in so many other areas of life. The discipline of study is probably at the root of this academic success - teaching this discipline at a young age reaps great dividends later on.

Speaking of discipline, that's another characteristic of our Catholic schools. Teachers are empowered to maintain discipline in their classrooms, allowing students to focus on learning. Discipline makes a classroom not only physically safe, but emotionally safe, so that students thrive in a healthy, holy learning environment.

Finally, Catholic Schools also teach morals. Our Catholic faith teaches the difference between right and wrong, and this is emphasized in a Catholic education. We do not have to accept every new trend or fad or "politically correct" item. It is not OK to steal, to lie, to be disrespectful, to disobey. In a Catholic school, there are consequences to bad behavior, so young people learn the value of self-control. Strong morals allow a person to succeed in life, navigating the temptations of life with strength and grace.

But there's one more important quality of Catholic education: LOVE. It's something you can feel in our school. There's never a day that I walk through the school or stop in at lunch without at least one child running up, "Hi, Father Bateman!" - then they throw their arms around you in a huge hug. Our Catholic school offers the place where love it at the heart of it all. That's what makes us, our faculty and our school different - and worth the investment.

I believe that every Catholic parent should seriously discern and consider a Catholic education for their children. There is so much out there - so much that can hurt our children. Here in our safe, loving, disciplined and studious environment, your children are free to learn the truth: both of 2 + 2 and the Truths of God. Our Catholic school is truly worth the investment - because we certainly reap the dividends!