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TO BOLDLY GO….

This thought-provoking article explores the mission of Catholic education in today's post-modern world and the challenges it faces. It delves into the need to adapt and evolve, engage with new life forms, and confront the changing beliefs and needs of young Catholics. The article emphasizes the importance of courage, vision, and staying focused on our mission amidst societal challenges.

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TO BOLDLY GO….

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  1. TO BOLDLY GO…. EXPLORING THE CHALLENGE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION

  2. WHAT IS OUR MISSION? • …TO EXPLORE NEW WORLDS • … TO ENCOUNTER NEW LIFE FORMS • … TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE • the Magi and the “Enterprise”

  3. The Gift of the Magi • We don’t know how many or who • They figured that Jesus wanted to be found • They kept at it • They trusted in their vision • They read the signs of the times • They showed up • They returned a different way

  4. TO EXPLORE NEW WORLDS... • What is it like to live in the post-modern world? • How is this world different from the one in which we grew up? • What will we face in the future?

  5. Old: Memorize catechism No meat on Fri. Never question Value religious, priesthood Pray, pay, obey New: Scripture, social teaching Fast at your own discretion Question, question, question New roles for laity Be discerning Old Church/ New Church

  6. We are supposed to: Communicate Lead instruction Facilitate Faith Create institutional climate Achieve Catholicity Bring vision, planning Support everyone We are judged on: Avoiding conflict Completing paperwork Being popular w/parents Getting volunteers Doing good fundraising Getting classes covered, lunches served. The difficulty:

  7. TO ENCOUNTER NEW LIFE FORMS • Converting the baptized • Coping with the definition of “family” • Coping with generation “why” • Meeting new needs for Church

  8. Beliefs of Young Catholics • 91% believe that bread & wine become Body & Blood of Christ • 62% take seriously Papal pronouncements • 77% say they can be good Catholics and not attend church • 56% say they have no obligation to donate money to the Church • 7% don’t believe Jesus was the Son of God • 45% believe Catholicism is the same as other religions • 72% disagree on birth control; 65% believe in divorce & remarriage; 53% disagree with Church teaching on abortion.

  9. What’s on the minds of youth? 56% school performance 22% my parents might divorce 53% looks 21% I may die soon 48% others like me 19% sexual abuse 47% one parent might die 18% trouble from friends 45% how I’m treated by friends 38% societal ills 15% parent’s drinking 36% violence at school 12% getting beat up at school 35% I might lose a friend 11% I might kill myself 35% drugs/alcohol 30% might not get a good job 26% body normality 25% US nuked

  10. What are the challenges with kids? • Preparing students for the workplace; • Providing a range of services to children and families • Serving children w/o adult advocates • Teaching children w/special needs

  11. What are our challenges with Church? • Accountability • Disaffected adults • Disconnect with organized religion • Parish no longer a focal point • Training persons for leadership

  12. Life-long learning Aging facilities Staffing shortages Decoupling from parishes Teaching social justice Market/entitlement mentality Religious identity-as Catholics Alienation from organized religion Technology: alienation and anomie New models Disenchantment w/Church To Boldly Go….To Face What?

  13. Lack of resources Lack of recognition Lack of involvement Lack of support “Teach them always” “Don’t worry about…” “I send you out as lambs among wolves” “They will flog you in their synagogues” How do we follow the message and example of Jesus? “Behold I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

  14. To boldly go…. • We cannot stand still • We need to ask ourselves: • Who will go? • How will we go? • Where are we going? • How will we know we got there? • How will we know it’s place we’re supposed to be?

  15. As leaders, we need to ask: • How will we re-capture the day we said “yes”? • What does the Church need now? • What kind of people does the Church need? • How will we recognize the future? • How will we not get discouraged?

  16. When will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the burning desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary? For each of us There is a desert to travel A star to discover And being within ourselves to bring to life. (Raymond Hunthausen)

  17. We will need courage We will need energy We will need vision We will need to be at ease with ourselves and our decisions. Above all, like the psalmist We will need to “keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, our God” Until God lets us rest And then we will know As we have always known That the effort was worth The gift of our lives The best of our years The length of our days

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