By Brenda Mitzel
The Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls is home to 22 Catholic schools. These schools stand as a vital force in the Church’s mission to evangelize and educate. Rooted in a rich heritage that spans over 2,000 years, these schools aim to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, fostering in students rich encounters of faith. Amid a modern culture often hostile to religious values, Catholic schools provide a sanctuary where objective truth and Gospel-based teachings can thrive.
Emphasizing the partnership with parents, who hold the primary responsibility for their children’s education, these institutions offer a holistic educational environment that complements familial efforts. Through this Christian education, children become aware of their calling, learn to bear witness to the hope that is in them, and identify how to witness to the world as missionary disciples of Christ. Recently, diocesan leaders gathered at Mount Marty University to enhance the opportunity for Catholic schools to offer authentic Catholic education.
In the Second Vatican Council document Gravissimum Educationis, the Church teaches that all Christians have the right to a Christian education where they are gradually introduced to the knowledge of the mystery of salvation and become ever more aware of the gift of faith they received in Baptism. Parents, having the first responsibility for the education of their children, are enriched by the grace and Sacrament of Matrimony to provide the rich environment for children to have a knowledge of God, to worship him and to love their neighbor.
The family is the first school of personal and social education. The Catholic Church, desiring to assist parents in the formation of their children, supports Catholic schools in their role of assisting parents by providing a high-quality educational atmosphere and programs that complement what is being done in the family.
Raising Catholic children in a modern culture that opposes the faith has become more challenging. According to former Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles J. Chaput, “Society has become increasingly hostile to the faith that orders lives built on the Gospel message. In an age that denies the existence of objective truth, Catholic schools offer an antidote to the dictatorship of relativism.”
Catholic schools have a lengthy and rich heritage. For over 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has been forming the hearts and minds of young people. Universal education was one of the great gifts of the many men and women in religious orders. They believed it was part of the Christian mission to develop the whole person in such a way that a child can live his/her life consistent with the truth about himself as a human being created in the image and likeness of God and destined to be with him forever in eternity.
Catholic education is a vital ministry of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Sioux Falls. The diocesan vision for Catholic education is to “provide authentically Catholic education as an evangelizing mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News and be a place to encounter the living God, who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth.”
Authentically Catholic education encompasses five essential marks:
(1) Inspired by a supernatural vision that emphasizes human dignity, forming individuals to love God and neighbor, as well as fulfilling their destiny to become saints in eternal life.
(2) Founded on Christian anthropology and rooted in Jesus Christ, the redeemer, who, through his Incarnation, is united with each person. Each student becomes aware of the living presence of Jesus, who is with us on our journey through life.
(3) Animated by communion and community so that the school climate imitates the warm atmosphere of family life, and all who are a part of the school work together for the common good. Prayer is a normal part of the school day with Mass celebrated regularly alongside traditional Catholic devotions and sacraments. The physical environment expresses the Catholic culture through images, symbols, icons and other sacramental reminders of Catholic life.
(4) Imbued with a Catholic worldview that seeks to bring faith, culture and life into harmony by fostering a love for wisdom and a passion to discover the truth. Students are formed in cardinal virtues that enable them to live a life in Christ and assume the responsibility placed on them in Baptism. Students learn to be critical consumers of information and make judgements based on religious and moral truths.
(5) Sustained by Gospel witness: the school community, including students, staff and families, exemplifies the Church’s evangelizing mission.
As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern culture, our commitment to providing an authentically Catholic education remains steadfast. By integrating faith, academic excellence and a strong sense of community, these schools not only educate but also transform lives, nurturing students to become missionary disciples of Christ.
The recent gathering at Mount Marty University underscores the collective dedication of diocesan leaders to uphold and advance this vision. Through this unwavering commitment, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux Falls will continue to be a beacon of hope, truth and love, shaping future generations to live out their faith courageously and compassionately in a world in need of the Gospel’s light. Please pray for all Catholic school leaders and staff as they fulfill this vital ministry of the Catholic Church.
