To minister and bring light: Franciscan Friars education ministry
What would you do?
We Friars serve in several parishes – rural, suburban and urban – throughout the Midwest, the South, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Some of these parishes have grade schools which are rather diverse. For example, we have one grade school which is fairly suburban and over 80% Catholic. We have another one, in the inner-city, which is mostly non-Catholic.
When St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. John Neumann, CSsR began the Catholic school system back in the 19th century, they intended to establish a safe place for Catholic children in a hostile Protestant environment. Catholics then were a small minority held in suspicion for their loyalty to the pope (a foreign power). Some Catholics feared they would lose their identity and feel coerced to leave the Church. So, the Catholic school system was built to parallel the public school system, offer a good solid Catholic education and prepare Catholic leaders, religious, clergy and lay, for the future. In many ways they not only rivaled, but exceeded the public school system even in our own day!
But things change. Many of the neighborhoods in which the Catholic schools were originally established, especially in former ethnic enclaves, have been transformed significantly. Some are inhabited by poorer Catholic immigrants who might not be able to afford what their predecessors could. Some are poorer folks who are not Catholic. Two of our Catholic schools, for example, are supported by voucher programs (Milwaukee and Cleveland) which pay for students’ educational needs, but not religious materials. The one school is overwhelmingly (and nominally, at least) Catholic, the other is not. Should the 2nd school continue to exist if it is no longer serving its original mission? Most of the children are not Catholic, and probably will not become Catholic. The mission of that particular school has obviously changed – still, do you think it should continue to exist? Why or why not?
What would you do? This is not a test to determine right or wrong. It is an exercise in real pastoral ministry and some possible responses. When you submit your answer, you'll be able to see what he did and you'll be able to see images of San Damiano, Assisi, Italy.
