Ethos booklet launched by Bishop
BISHOP Denis Brennan has launched a document titled ‘Understanding and Living the Ethos of a Catholic Primary School’ which outlines a programme of understanding and learning that will be rolled out in Catholic primary schools over the next five years.
The launch took place at a meeting on Thursday of primary school principals and Board of Management chairpersons in the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy.
Bishop Brennan explained at the launch that the programme is designed to deepen understanding of the Catholic ethos, to highlight awareness of the current strengths within schools, and to effect a programme of basic discussions and actions across the whole school community, that fully values each person and makes more explicit the Gospel energy available to further the mission of Christ in today’s world.
Addressing the attendees he described the document as being ‘a comprehensive work’ offering Catholic primary schools strategies which he said ‘will enable us to evaluate our standing in relation to schools of other faiths and none’.
He said such schools are part of a huge worldwide network and highlighted that the Catholic Church is the largest non-governmental provider of education in the world serving over 60 million students annually.
‘Our schools are recognised around the world for excellence in academics, for instilling a commitment to civic engagement, for fostering leadership and for nurturing respect for the dignity of the human person,’ he said.
He referenced a press conference in Rome where Polish Cardinal Grocholewski was Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and told a story relating to a Muslim Ambassador who had chosen to attend a Catholic School.
When asked why, the ambassador had said: ‘ they are the best...they do not just teach science...they mould people and transmit values.’
Referencing the story Bishop Brennan said it resonated with another quote contained in the booklet.
‘ That comment chimes very neatly with the quote in the booklet by GK
Chesterton,’ said Bishop Brennan, who then read the quote: ‘Every education teaches a philosophy, if not by dogma then by suggestion, by implication, by atmosphere. Every part of that education has a connection with every other part. If it does not all combine to convey some general view of life, it is not education at all.’
The bishop thanked everyone who works in Catholic primary schools throughout the Diocese.
‘In your work with young people you truly touch the future,’ he said.
‘ The dedication and commitment shown by you and your staff in educating the children of our diocese within the context of a Catholic and Christian ethos is to be commended and it is something for which I am extremely grateful,’ he added.
He also acknowledged the team responsible for compiling the document including Mairin Jackson, Msgr Joe McGrath, Fr Pat Duffy, Michael Foley, Sean Furlong and Maureen Kavanagh.
Bishop Brennan also thanked the other speakers at the launch including Ferdia Kelly and Tommy Carroll.
The bishop then encouraged those in attendance to address and reflect on the topic as it would help ‘clarify’ their position as a Catholic primary school.