Unified Not Uniform

Over the past few weeks, I have had the blessing to speak with transformational Catholic school leaders from across our country about their ministries in Catholic schools. Their individual and collective commitment to the mission of Catholic education inspires me and breathes hope into my ministry to form more of these types of transformational leaders for our Catholic schools. 

It strikes me that while similarities exist across these leaders and their specific school contexts, all of these leaders lead in uniquely specific ways and contexts. 

Considering their efforts as part of the saving mission of Christ, these leaders are unified not uniform. 

Uniform means one form. Unified means that we come with our individual identities and bring them into coordination with others' uniqueness. 

St. Paul writes powerfully about the unification of the many members into the one Body of Christ in his first letter to the Corinthians:

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:27-28)

St. John Paul II affirms this: 

The unity of the Church is not uniformity, but an organic blending of legitimate diversities. It is the reality of many members joined in a single body, the one Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 12:12). (2001, #46)

In this way, Catholic schools should consider embracing, enhancing, and celebrating their unique contexts, communities, and charisms. 

For example, two of the school leaders interviewed, Dr. Martine Romero and Mrs. Jessica Patterson, minister at St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School in Bellevue, WA. Their school community courageously and joyfully embraces a radically inclusive approach to education, allowing for students who may have historically been denied acceptance into Catholic schools - a compelling argument against the Catholic school effect - to participate in a general Catholic education program. And, while their ministry hopefully inspires more school leaders and communities to adopt a similar approach, taking the St. Madeleine tactics off of a shelf and applying them to another school community would be foolish. 

It would be similar to putting a foosball table in the faculty lounge and expecting morale to increase. This may be a signature aspect of another organization's culture but that doesn't mean it will transfer to your unique community. 

Instead, a key takeaway from time spent with another leader and/or community should invite broader and more thematic reflections. For this experience with St. Madeleine Sophie, we should consider questions like these: 

• 

  One of the south tapestries, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

  How does my school welcome and embrace students and families? 
• What obstacles stand in the way of students accessing my school and/or flourishing there? 
• In what ways is my school community called to be more radically inclusive by breaking down barriers like finances, prior academic performance and behavior, background, and faith? 
• How might my school shift from inclusivity to belonging, emphasizing the ideals of solidarity, ubuntu - I am because we are, participation, and subsidiarity. 

As we do this, as we celebrate the many and varied ways that each Catholic school community is united in Christ yet diversified in its local ministry, we live out our true Catholicity - aligned to the Church established by Christ - and catholicity - spreading throughout the whole. 

Our ministry and our world don't need another St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School, despite the amazing work of that entire school community. What we need is for each of our school communities to so what St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School has done: recognize, embrace, enhance, and celebrate its local contexts, its specific communities, and its unique charisms.

As St. Catherine of Siena stated, "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the whole world on fire." 

If we do this on both the individual and communal levels, becoming the best versions of ourselves so that our Catholic schools can become the best versions of themselves, uniting the various gifts of teachers within a school while also uniting the particular gifts across Catholic school communities, we can and will set the world on fire. 

If we do this, Catholic schools, unified with each other and Christ, can and will change the world.    

Reference: 

• St. John Paul II. (2001). Novo Millennio Ineunte. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20010106_novo-millennio-ineunte.html