In his address to Catholic educators, Pope Benedict exhorted us to focus on mission, conviction and love. First, he emphasized the crucial role that Catholic education plays in the Church’s mission to evangelize. Much more than simply developing the intellectual capacity of students, Catholic institutions are called to help their students discover and accept the truth in a way that has consequences for their lives. Contact with the truth should move the will so that students live and experience more fully the joy and challenge of following Christ and of becoming His witnesses to the world.
Second, the Holy Father stressed that the Catholic identity of an institution is fundamentally a question of conviction and faith. Are we really convinced by Christ? Do we really believe that a vibrant life of faith is necessary for our institutions to flourish? The answers to those questions define who we are and whether we offer a real alternative to non-Catholic institutions.
Finally, it struck me that the Holy Father sees the educator’s responsibility to lead others to the truth as a requirement of love. He called it “intellectual charity”. What a beautiful way to synthesize the mission and vocation of Catholic education. At IPS we are committed to serving our students and the Church in this way.