Greg, you provided good insights and a thoughtful reflection. In the US, Catholic education is declining, and a recent study suggested that by 2035, we may not have Catholic schools at all, especially at the parish level. During the last forty years, we have witnessed the rapid decline of the parish and many smaller high schools. Budgets at the parish level have not been sustainable for many and most parishes.
There seemed to be a turning point in the late 1970s away from Catholic education in grades 1-12 in the US. Instead of addressing the root cause, we proceeded to try to treat the symptoms, and we all know how well that works, at least with the common cold. Others preferred to treat it like Neurosis and hoped it all would go away in six months. And that didn't happen.
The question does arise about what the Church is and why people belong. A recently retired priest friend said that the number of young men getting ordained has no interest in being in parishes with grade schools. And the trend among those who become pastors is to prefer parishes without schools. He then went on to say, “Catholicism in the US is becoming like Italy; you go to church three times in your life, twice you are carried in, and once you walk in.”
To address the education issue, we must ask what Catholicism is and why it matters. Why should people care? What can we all do to bring about the kingdom of God here and now? What role does education play in the Kingdom of God, and who and what makes it work?
To your point, the See-Judge-Act is a great place to start. In the SEE activity, we need to focus on the root cause of the problems we discover rather than just treating the symptoms.
Hi Richard, thank you for sharing. I believe that the question you posed, "What the Church is, and why people belong" is the central one. I believe the SJA is one approach that can address this.
Thank you for this reflection, Greg. We currently do battle with school leadership teams and school staff who won’t accept that belonging to parish and celebrating the Eucharist in the parish is the ideal to strive to achieve. To balance this view: recently I heard from a school leader who was hopeful for this year because she has a dedicated RE team. Now, all they have to do, is to generate interest in their students … no easy task, given your analysis of what we are working against in our world today. May God’s Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Greg, you provided good insights and a thoughtful reflection. In the US, Catholic education is declining, and a recent study suggested that by 2035, we may not have Catholic schools at all, especially at the parish level. During the last forty years, we have witnessed the rapid decline of the parish and many smaller high schools. Budgets at the parish level have not been sustainable for many and most parishes.
There seemed to be a turning point in the late 1970s away from Catholic education in grades 1-12 in the US. Instead of addressing the root cause, we proceeded to try to treat the symptoms, and we all know how well that works, at least with the common cold. Others preferred to treat it like Neurosis and hoped it all would go away in six months. And that didn't happen.
The question does arise about what the Church is and why people belong. A recently retired priest friend said that the number of young men getting ordained has no interest in being in parishes with grade schools. And the trend among those who become pastors is to prefer parishes without schools. He then went on to say, “Catholicism in the US is becoming like Italy; you go to church three times in your life, twice you are carried in, and once you walk in.”
To address the education issue, we must ask what Catholicism is and why it matters. Why should people care? What can we all do to bring about the kingdom of God here and now? What role does education play in the Kingdom of God, and who and what makes it work?
To your point, the See-Judge-Act is a great place to start. In the SEE activity, we need to focus on the root cause of the problems we discover rather than just treating the symptoms.
Also, Richard, I got this from Stefan. Maybe it is of interest to you. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/02/pew-study-america-spiritual-but-not-religious-young-adult-revival/
Hi Richard, thank you for sharing. I believe that the question you posed, "What the Church is, and why people belong" is the central one. I believe the SJA is one approach that can address this.
Thank you for this reflection, Greg. We currently do battle with school leadership teams and school staff who won’t accept that belonging to parish and celebrating the Eucharist in the parish is the ideal to strive to achieve. To balance this view: recently I heard from a school leader who was hopeful for this year because she has a dedicated RE team. Now, all they have to do, is to generate interest in their students … no easy task, given your analysis of what we are working against in our world today. May God’s Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Amen. May God's Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.