Normalizing the Principles of the Gospel

Christ is the foundation of the whole educational enterprise in a Catholic school. His revelation gives new meaning to life and helps man to direct his thought, action and will according to the Gospel, making the beatitudes his norm of life. The fact that in their own individual ways all members of the school community share this Christian vision, makes the school "Catholic"; principles of the Gospel in this manner become the educational norms since the school then has them as its internal motivation and final goal.

-Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, 1977, para. 34

Maureen Hallinan (2005) posited that the normative culture of the school - the expected set of behaviors and operating procedures - has three main components: norms governing academic performance, norms for social behaviors, and norms regarding the morals and values of the school community. 

As Catholic school leaders, we must accept and assume the responsibility for ensuring that the normative behavior in each of these three areas leads to excellence in academics, personal development, and faith formation. 

More than just higher test scores and rigorous standards of conduct, our Catholic schools must design and implement ways of behaving and operating that allow all students to flourish holistically - mentally, personally, and spiritually. 

From our admissions and enrollment management processes to our recruitment, hiring, and development of faculty and staff to our behavior systems to our expectations for teaching and learning, the norms within our Catholic schools must advance the school's mission. Anything that detracts, distracts, and/or destroys these mission-aligned efforts should be rooted out. Similarly, we must streamline all aspects of our schools so that they flow into the larger river of the school's mission. 

In many ways, based upon the principles of the Gospel, these norms must be counter-cultural. Instead of discipline programs having a punitive flavor they must be geared toward formation. 

Instead of elite institutions that only service those students and families with academic, behavioral, and economic strength, we must find ways to make our schools more accessible and affordable. 

Guidance services must provide more than just academic and college/career support; they must include a vocational component - what is God calling you to do now and/or in the future? 

Instead of just having large school-wide liturgical celebrations, we must also consider ways to circle smaller groups of students, teachers, and families - Jesus preached to thousands while discipling twelve-ish. 

Instead of just saying that the school "is like a family" we can design intentional ways to support and strengthen the web of relationships between and among members of the school community. 

We must honor more than just the top grades, athletic achievements, and college acceptances, finding ways to recognize and value service, improvement, and charity. 

As stated by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (the precursor to the current USCCB - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) in 1972, "Community is at the heart of Christian education not simply as a concept to be taught but as a reality to be lived" (para. 23). These Gospel principles, therefore, become both the goal and the means by which the goal will be accomplished. 

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Like the Sermon on the Plain we have heard proclaimed the last two weeks at Mass (2/16 and 2/23), our Catholic schools must be places that operationalize Christ's radical love and forgiveness, and life-giving grace and service.   

When strategic Catholic school leaders lead with zeal, the devil isn't in the details; Christ is. 

Let us strategically design policies, programs, and procedures that making Christ incarnate, so that our means justify, lead to, and double as our end: fullness of life through a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Seek Goodness, Continuously Improve

"Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed."

- William Saroyan

I first heard the quote above during the summer between my first and second year of teaching. Spoken at a retreat and used as the springboard for a reflection on seeing our students as children of God, I find myself returning to the heart of its message in moments of striving to continuously improve. 

It also popped into my head this morning after reading, "Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea" to my son last night. In this short story, Jellyfish identifies Narwhal's superpower as bringing the superpowers out of other people. 

Seek goodness everywhere. Find it. Bring it out of its hiding place. Let it be free and unashamed. 

In doing so, we unleash the greatness of others, enabling them to excel as well. 

Marianne Williamson phrased it in this way, "We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

So, let your light shine. Identify the light in others and call them to radiate in turn. Continue to find the next area in which to improve, the next step to take to achieve even higher levels of success. 

This isn't just about finding grand, sweeping innovations. It's about cultivating a mindset where we actively look for the "good" – the efficient process, the helpful suggestion, the spark of insight – in every corner of our work and lives.

In the Pixar movie Cars, Lightning McQueen's efforts to pave the main road of Radiator Springs inspire a city-wide clean-up effort. 

It's worth noting that his first attempt - half-hearted and hurried - had the opposite impact: maintenance of the mediocre status quo.

But, the new road highlighted the other areas in need of a refresh. 

As we go about our work as Catholic school leaders, may we take a similar approach. Find, create, and implement goodness in small yet powerful ways. As we do this, the new light will highlight other areas in need of polish. Follow the same cycle - find, create and implement that which is good, drawing it out of its hiding place and allowing it to shine. 

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:14-16). 

Clear away the smudges. Polish. Ignite a spark. Light a flame. Build a fire. 

Let it shine. 

Seek goodness, continuously improve. 

Into Deep Water

"Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction." 

-Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 2005, para. 1

Yesterday's Gospel contained one of my favorite lines from Sacred Scripture. After getting into Peter's boat - uninvitedly and unexpectedly - Jesus instructs him, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch" (Luke 5:4). 

At this point, not only does Jesus act as an unwelcome passenger in Peter's boat, He offers Peter unsolicited and unwelcome advice. 

In response to Jesus's prompting, Peter retorts, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing." But, Peter's response doesn't end there. 

He continues, perhaps reluctantly, "but at your command I will lower the nets."

The resulting catch of fish tears their nets and requires extra sets of hands. Peter acknowledges God's greatness and his own sinfulness before accepting a new mission: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

The passage closes with the pairs of brothers - Peter and Andrew, James and John - leaving their nets behind and following Jesus (Luke 5:1-11). 

This sequence of events should act as a recipe for our operations as leaders of Catholic schools. 

First, bring our students into an encounter with Jesus. Put Jesus in our students' "boats" by baptizing their classes, lunch periods, athletic contests, and extra-curricular activities with the truth, way, and life of Jesus Christ. Offer students opportunities to encounter Christ through the Celebration of the Eucharist, Adoration, breaking open God's Word, praying the Rosary, performing service, and robust prayer and retreat experiences. 

Second, develop a vocational ethos by openly talking about our calls to faith and to our ministries in Catholic education. Push our faculty, staff, and administration to craft and readily share these stories of witness. Help students to see beyond the boundaries of college and career into the boundless horizons of following Christ. 

Third, provide opportunities for students to put out into deep water and lower their nets for a catch through vibrant and rigorous curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular programming. Proclaim scripture. Honor our schools' patrons. Align our policies, procedures, and programs to the foundational statements of our schools ensuring cohesion and consistency between and among what we believe, what we say, and what we do. 

Fourth, let us transparently communicate the greatness of our God and the ways in which we can improve through the collection and display of mission-focused data. Like the great catch of fish requiring the help of others, may we compellingly tell the stories of success across our school communities. Through the collection and display of qualitative and quantitative mission-driven data, may we proclaim the greatness of our God Who magnifies our efforts into something beyond which we could ask for or imagine. Similarly, like Peter's recognition of his own shortcomings, may we also transparently communicate the ways in which we commit to improving and then set out to close the gap between where we are and where we should be. 

Fifth, may we attract others to assist us in this eternal work. Much like Ernest Shackelton's job posting for an expedition to cross Antarctica in the early 1900s: 

Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success. (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ernest-shackletons-famous-job-ad-men-wanted-for-hazardous-journey-is-probably-a-myth-5552379/)  

may we stir the hearts of others to set out into the deep waters of Holy Spirit-inspired and -guided adventure - in pursuit of that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise (Phil 4:8).

Finally, as we answer the call to become fishers of men and women may we bring others into a relationship with Jesus so that they can answer His call for their lives in turn. 

So that they can join us out in the deep waters of a life of discipleship of Jesus Christ. 

A life fully alive!

Duc in altum!

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