A teacher in a Catholic school was testing the children in her class to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven.
She asked them, “If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the Church, would that get me into Heaven?”
“NO!” the children answered.
“If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?”
Again, the answer was, “NO!”
Now she was smiling. Hey, they’re getting it, she thought! “Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into Heaven?” she asked.
Again, they all answered, “NO!”
She was just bursting with pride for them. “Well,” she continued, “then how can I get into Heaven?”
A five-year-old named Johnny shouted out, “YOU GOTTA BE DEAD.”
Johnny certainly is correct. Heaven is our final destination, where we will be united with God forever. A question I raise and which I often hear is: “How is Catholic school education really that different from other educational (public) institutions?” This story illustrates some of the key aspects of how it is different.
Our Catholic schools are different because we see what we do as more than just imparting knowledge and facts. This is a true ministry that involves all of our administrators, teachers and staff. Ours is a collaborative effort centered on Christ. Therefore, our Catholic schools are able to bring home the reality that this life isn’t our final destination — we are called to something more — eternal life with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Catholic schools also teach us that it takes more than alms and good deeds to prepare us for this life of eternal happiness and love to which God calls us.
Catholic schools show how God loves us and calls us to a deep relationship with Him; because of our relationship with Him we are called to share His Good News. We are also obliged to be what God has called us to be: His sons and daughters. As sons and daughters our kids are formed to become positive influences in society. The Church has clearly identified that the role of Catholic schools is to form the whole person — body, mind and spirit. Our schools excel academically (see IOWA testing and ACT graphs in this edition); they also excel in areas of service and faith formation.
Catholic school educators and administrators make this a reality through their teaching and example. Every August I have the opportunity to work with our new principals, and one of the areas we cover pertains to “obstacles toward carrying out the mission.” These obstacles come via a secular culture that often emphasizes the opposite of what our faith teaches: selfishness, individualism, a stunted emotional and psychological development…
When we talk about these obstacles, we don’t just identify them, we look at positive ways to counter them. Our Catholic administrators, who are themselves extremely intelligent and faith-filled, quickly identify the following remedies: infusion of faith in all areas of curriculum and use of technology, service in the name of Christ, regular recourse to the power and beauty of the sacraments, and a continued growth and deepening of prayer life — for teachers and students.
All of this is done in reference to who our students are as children of God and what God desires for them. He desires them to become all that they can, to take what they learn intellectually and spiritually, and apply it critically to the choices they make now and will make in the future.
Catholic schools are preparing our students to dialogue with and influence the culture in which they will live and work. As John Paul II once said, “Time dedicated to education is time truly well spent, because it determines a person’s future, and therefore the future of the family and the whole of society.”
Catholic school educators and administrators, by their example and faith-centered academic approach, are what make our Catholic schools different. They make real the fact that we are made to know God in a real and relational way. In knowing Him, we can in turn draw others to Him, offering them that promise of eternal life and love for which so many long. We call that eternal life of love and happiness Heaven.
Yes, “Johnny,” we do need to die to go to Heaven, but there is a journey to travel first. Catholic schools are an exceptional way to make that journey.
Come explore what Catholic education has to offer at www.aod.org!
Dr. Margie Crooks is the director of Evangelization, Catechesis and Schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
