One of the podcasts I listen to weekly is from Fr. John Ricardo. The leader of an organization called "Acts XXIX" (to signify that we are meant to live in the 29th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles) this past week Fr. John discussed the concept of "communio".
Providentially, Pope Leo XIV's episcopal motto mirrors this message: in illo uno unum - "although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one."
Simply, communio means many united as one while still being many. Rooted in the mystery of the Trinity - three Persons in one God - communio should also inspire our work as Catholic educators connected to the local traditions of our schools, the bishop of our respective dioceses, and the universal Church.
United and unique. Part of a system and autonomous. Together and individual.
Both/And.
Ideally, Catholic schools should benefit from being connected to centralized systems - parishes, orders, networks, dioceses - while remaining rooted in local charisms, traditions, and programs.
This duality requires strong balance and nimble flexibility. Much like differentiated instruction in a classroom, this dance between systemness and singularity demands that we create common structures while allowing for variance.
In my role as Associate Superintendent in the Diocese of Cleveland, much of my work has centered on alignment and the building of systems - hiring, temporal goods, budgeting, observations, board management, advancement, and data collection. This has been tempered with a respect for and consideration of the local realities of the schools here in the diocese.
Like the early apostles who toiled to establish our Church throughout the world, much work remains in order for us to function in communio with each other while remaining unique. In a sense, this work always remains - we will always need to move and adapt in order to meet the needs of our current contexts while staying grounded in the beliefs of our faith.
For now, let us find inspiration in the zeal of the apostles for us to dialogue with and encourage each other through the various iterations of our systems. Let us mimic their hope that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide us in this important work of designing structures, programs, and procedures that will more effectively and efficiently allow us to carry out the missions of our schools, respectively. And, may we imitate the bold faith of the apostles as we ensure our efforts always brings others into a relationship with Christ.
