tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post116992220662576926..comments2024-03-25T06:39:42.081-04:00Comments on Bonfire of the Vanities: Catholic Education: readiness for times of trial (Sunday homily)Fr Martin Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375628123126091747noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-7010267061074508592007-02-08T19:15:00.000-05:002007-02-08T19:15:00.000-05:00Fr Klingele,You a spot on regarding faith formatio...Fr Klingele,<BR/><BR/>You a spot on regarding faith formation in the home. If it does not happen there, in this day and age, it simply won't happen...the faith will not be passed on.<BR/>What disappoints and puzzles me, however, is the complete avoidance<BR/>by many priests and almost all bishops, of the core issues of the Faith; heaven, hell, sin, grace and <BR/>salvation of soul.<BR/>I have not heard a sermon on any of the above from a parish priest for 20+ years. <BR/>I do, however, hear these preached consistently from the priests of Opus Dei.<BR/>I don't get. But I really no longer care if I do get it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-49167296403898669492007-02-07T10:32:00.000-05:002007-02-07T10:32:00.000-05:00I'm a Catholic homeschooling mom because I want my...I'm a Catholic homeschooling mom because I want my children to be "Catholic for a lifetime" not have "Values for a lifetime". An atheist can have values like leadership, citzenship, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-3888839957309760552007-02-03T12:22:00.000-05:002007-02-03T12:22:00.000-05:00... what jackie said.
in my parish school open h...... what jackie said. <br /><br />in my parish school open house I asked the teachers about the school's mission, and all touted that 'our school is just as good as the public school.' I even asked very pointed questions to evoke some religious-related responses, but sadly none came. My kids go to a small bible school where the teachers see their job as a ministry and are very dedicated in 'modeling' Christian virtue as well as high academic standards. This happens because the school leadership screens demands it. <br /><br />I am waiting for such a Catholic school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-58372840872843405012007-02-03T11:48:00.000-05:002007-02-03T11:48:00.000-05:00Father Fox,
Might you be looking into the Family ...Father Fox,<br /><br />Might you be looking into the Family Faith Family program to allow to promote at-home catechesis? I am currently looking into this program for my parish. <br /><br />All the heroic work of Catholic school, catechism, and RCIA seem to disappear with the wave of a wand when Mom and Dad or Spouse or Neighbor says, "Most Catholics don't really believe that. You don't have to believe that. I don't." Or just as bad, maybe even worse, when these role models of those being initiated into the Faith don't live what is taught, e.g., only assisting at Holy Mass on Sundays/Holy Days when it is convenient and not going to Confession for receiving Communion the next time.<br /><br />When Catholic school is not chosen because of zeal for Catholic faith (we like uniforms or the kids are better behaved), when catechism becomes drop-off/free babysitting time, when RCIA is done to make a future spouse happy or to not feel uncomfortable at Mass, what it taught by orthodox priests, sisters, and laymen is the seed that lands in the thorns. The twisted thorns kill the seed which wants to produce good fruit. In short, the home, i.e., the primary educators, is what is essential. Ideally, home, church, and school agree. A child can survive faith intact bad preaching and bad schooling if good things are happening at home. But if bad things are happening at home, church and school can only throw seed to the thorns. <br /><br />It seems that in Catholic circles the favorite thing to complain about is the preaching of priests. Lay people complain about their priests, priests where they have visited, and stories told to them. And we know that no one is harder on priests than other priests (except maybe for seminarians). <br /><br />If parents are primary educators and the paragraph above holds some truth, should not all of us - not only priests - examine the effort we make to pass on the Faith we have received. I would guess (from my experience as pastor) that typical parents only talk about faith when a child asks a particular question (and this usually scares the parents). Above average would seem to be families that discuss something that was said or heard at Mass after Mass at the dinner table, pizza shop, or sitting around reading the Sunday morning paper. The best parents intentionally plan conservations to have, questions to ask, virtues to point out, behavior of which to show disapproval, and the viewing of media which will invite mature discussions of how to live out the Faith. Most average parents say, "I don't know. That is what the Church says. We've always done it that way. Father likes it that way. Sister told me so." Underaverage includes the very negative role models that some parents give. One of the saddest and most common situations: a grade school child, sometimes with tears in his eyes, says, "Father, I want to go to Mass on Sundays, but my parents are always sick on Sunday mornings." The first time that I heard this I thought, "I can't believe that parents would give a lame excuse, while lying, to their children." I quickly realized what was going on and was saddened to the depths of my being. Children longing for the Eucharist (because of the good seeds planted by church and school) are being pulled away by the thorns (drinking, carousing parents who haven't accepted the responsibilities or marriage, children, or the baptism of children). <br /><br />We need faith formation in the home! And at church and in school!Greywolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13395891232054611500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-42383380334409493092007-02-01T11:39:00.000-05:002007-02-01T11:39:00.000-05:00As a homeschooler, I'd be interested to see your i...As a homeschooler, I'd be interested to see your impressions of the various materials available to homeschoolers for Religious Ed. Right now, I'm supplementing the parish RE program with various things, but haven't found anything we all like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-74129791696357009102007-02-01T00:16:00.000-05:002007-02-01T00:16:00.000-05:00While I would not say that my experience with my k...While I would not say that my experience with my kids in Catholic school swas quite as bad as Jackie's I would say that it left a lot to be desired. <br /><br />One would think that Catholic schools would try to stand out more to give parents a reason to spend almost $8,000 a year to send their child to the school. When my friends ask me why I send my kids to Catholic schools I give the answers that the quality is better, it is safer etc but they would know I'd be lying if I said that the religious instruction was great.<br /><br />I'm not aware of one religious vocation coming from that school in the 20 years since I graduated from high school until now.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06777154195820383065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-16758358269849672982007-01-30T13:09:00.000-05:002007-01-30T13:09:00.000-05:00One of the many reasons we home schooled our child...One of the many reasons we home schooled our children was the very poor catechesis at the nearest Catholic elementary school. No emphasis at all on the Faith, just another subject. No emphasis on devotions or First Friday Mass, or Confession or vocations. It was a average private <br />school. One sister, the principal, did not teach, and could not easily be recognized as a religious given her school day attire. The only other sister, elderly, was the librarian and did not teach. Religion class was watered down, warm and fuzzy stuff. Nothing that would lead one to defend the faith or to a vocation.<br />This was all well known by the bishop and his silence indicated indifference or approval...take your pick.<br />For the price I paid the short time the children were there, it was a waste of money. So we did it ourselves and for our efforts were looked down upon by the diocese at those few times we asked for some simple assistance. No big deal, such is life. It is, nevertheless, the reality of the American Catholic Chuch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-2099570610900514142007-01-29T13:10:00.000-05:002007-01-29T13:10:00.000-05:00Fr. Fox, good homily. I work at a homeschool assoc...Fr. Fox, good homily. I work at a homeschool association, so I was delighted to see you highlight that aspect. <br /><br />Nice tie-in to the OT reading, too. For some reason, I tend to like OT-based homilies better.<br /><br />God bless.the Joneseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15854341910963353734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14168956.post-1169947503298343782007-01-27T20:25:00.000-05:002007-01-27T20:25:00.000-05:00Fr - another great homily. A couple of points tha...Fr - another great homily. A couple of points that absolutely DO NOT change anything you have said nor the truth of what you have preached.<BR/><BR/>Knowing about Christ and knowing HIM is the most important thing we can do and the most important thing we can teach, share and show our children and the rest of the world. It is this knowledge of and faith in Christ that carry us through the tough times and the good times.<BR/><BR/>But, just as many of us struggle to find a parish and a priest who has the courage to preach the truth, all of the truth and all of the time (with charity and prudence, of course) we also struggle to find Catholic Schools that REALLY AND TRULY teach the faith and make it THE most important thing they do.<BR/><BR/>My son is now in college, but he went to 12 years of Catholic school before that. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. The school was better academically and certainly was much better is most aspects of discipline as well as usually being safer. BUT, to say that my son was taught the faith and that it held as important a place as academics or sports (forget being more important) is just not what happened for 12 years. I spent over $30,000 on his education over 12 years. <BR/><BR/>And for that $30,000 from a Catholic perspective I got incomplete catechesis, incorrect teachings, horrible books, the religion class in grade school was ALWAYS the one skipped when they had an 'extra activity, play, etc.' as well as basic heresy and disregard for the Church. (We don't think children NEED to go to First Confession prior to First Holy Communion - they REALLY can't sin you know. So long as they get there before the end of the 4th grade its ok. They never checked.)<BR/><BR/>High School - while it was now a required class - 1 out of 7 - it generally didn't have the level of importance or rigour as the 'real' classes. Then, of course, the unadulterated heresy - Mary wasn't always a virgin; Women should be able to be priests - it's just a power thing in the all male heirarchy, etc. This was from the co-chair of the religion department.<BR/><BR/>So, I would have LOVED to have my son go to the school you described. (And while I believe you in the number of hours on paper they are getting = is it the first class to be cut?) But, like having a pastor who normally gives your homilies, who works so diligently on the liturgy, who really wants to think with the mind of the Church are far and few between - so are the kind of Catholic schools you describe. At least where I live (the same diocese as you).<BR/><BR/>(And just for the record - there were some very orthodox teachers and a couple of priests - but they were well below 10% in my experience.)<BR/><BR/>I hope and pray that we are moving to a better educated group of adults and a better Catholic school system. Most importantly, parents ARE THE PRIMARY EDUCATORS of their children - everything else is just an assist. But it will be years before priests like you are the norm and likewise it will be years before adults are properly educated and Catholic Schools, as you have described, are the norm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com