This presentation is the second in a series being given to participants of the Graduate Certificate in Catholic Education Unit in Marist Methodology with the University of South Australia.

1. THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE
MARIST TRADITION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE UNIT
MARIST METHODOLOGY IN
CATHOLIC EDUCATION
SACRED HEART COLLEGE,
SOMERTON PARK
5TH MAY, 2016
4.00 PM - 6.00 PM
PRESENTER:
JOHN MCMAHON FMS
THEME 2

3. Conscientious students

4. RESOURCES

5. RESOURCES

6. OVERVIEW OF TODAY’S
SESSION
1. Context
2. Catholic Schools Today
3. Our Marist Tradition

7. 1. CONTEXT

8. RELIGION IN THE WORLD
Religious groups in China – where
Christianity and Buddhism are
growing especially strongly
among young people – are
starting to puzzle over how to
meet the new requirement that
they should merge their doctrines
with Chinese culture, as
instructed by President Xi Jinping
at the ruling Communist Party's
annual review of its policy on
religion. (Rowan Calico, 2016)

9. IN 100 WORDS, DESCRIBE THE CONTEXT IN WHICH YOU ARE WORKING
E.G. WORLD, SCHOOL, LIFE
MY CONTEXT

10. John Paul II, Message to the Catholic Educational Association of the United States, 1979
Catholic Education is above all a question of
communicating Christ, of helping to form Christ in
the lives of others
Goal of Catholic Education
2. CATHOLIC SCHOOLS TODAY

11. THE TASK OF THE CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
• The task of the Catholic school ‘is fundamentally a
synthesis of culture and faith, and a synthesis of
faith and life: the first is reached by integrating all
the different aspects of human knowledge through
the subjects taught, in the light of the Gospel; the
second in the growth of the virtues characteristic
of the Christian’ (The Catholic School, 1977, N37).

12. ABOUT THE CONGRESS
• Pope Benedict was hoping to
give new stimulus to the Church’s
role in education.
• Four themes: 1. Identity and
Mission; 2. People involved in
Catholic education 3. Formation
of Formators 4. Challenges and
Outlook
• Focus of handbook Instrumentum
Laboris: Evangelisation and
human development

13. KEY EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE FOR
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
• … the major educational challenges faced today
by the world’s Catholic schools and universities, in
a multicultural society in profound change, can be
traced back to … creating a workable model of
holistic education for young people, which
preserves the institutional identity of the
educational community of evangelisation.
How do you respond to this claim?
Please write 100 words

14. CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARE
PRIMARILY:
1. Communities
2. Educational
communities
3. Educating
communities of
evangelisation

15. CHALLENGES FOR CATHOLIC
SCHOOLS - 1: IDENTITY
• Identity is linked with
mission (challenge:
individualistic
competition; lack of open
dialogue).
• Where Christians are in
the minority, the best
approach to mission is
witness, not
proclamation.

16. CHALLENGES FOR CATHOLIC
SCHOOLS - 2: HOLISTIC EDUCATION
• Learning involves content
assimilation, commitment
towards self-improvement
(cognitive, affective, social,
ethical, spiritual and
professional) and the
common good.
• Learning opportunities for
all, good community and
formation for staff.

17. CHALLENGES FOR CATHOLIC
SCHOOLS 3: EDUCATION AND FAITH
• Catholic schools are
communities of faith and
learning.
• Spiritual leadership is valued
particularly where there is
increasing secularisation of
staff.
• Educational institutions are
required to work with families
by promoting dialogue,
participation and shared
responsibility.

18. CHALLENGES FOR CATHOLIC
SCHOOLS 4: THE POOR
• Care for the materially poor,
those with disabilities and
special educational needs.
• Sensitivity to those with
relational, cultural and spiritual
needs related to the crisis of
community.
• Need to speak to the human
heart and rekindle the meaning
of life.

19. NUMBERS OF STUDENTS IN CATHOLIC
SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES
World Population
1971 4 billion
2012 7 billion
0
15
30
45
60
1971 2012
No Students (millions)

20. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CATHOLIC
EDUCATION
(FROM THE CONGRESS)
1. Research - deepening moral and meaning related issues
2. Witness - recognising this primary form of communication
3. Dialogue - searching for mutual understanding
4. Service - making knowledge and skills available to others
5. Inclusion - welcoming the poor and disadvantaged
6. Hope - knowing the Father will give us all we require

21. 3. THE MARIST TRADITION
Photo courtesy Jonathan Doyle

22. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CHARISM IN YOUR SCHOOL?
100 WORDS PLEASE
WHAT IS A CHARISM?

23. CHARISMS IN THE CHURCH
‘The Holy Spirit also enriches the entire
evangelising Church with different
charisms. These gifts are meant to
renew and build up the Church. They
are not an inheritance, safely secured
and entrusted to a small group for
safekeeping; rather they are gifts of
the Spirit integrated into the body of
the Church, drawn to the centre which
is Christ and then channelled into an
evangelising impulse. A sure sign of
the authenticity of a charism is its
ecclesial character, its ability to be
integrated harmoniously into the life of
God’s holy and faithful people for the
good of all’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 130).

24. Marcellin Champagnat
Mary, the mother of Jesus
Jesus
The Crib, the Cross, the Altar

25. PUBLICATIONS
• The Teacher’s Guide
(Marist Brothers 1853,
Revised 1922, English
translation 1931)
• In the Footsteps of
Marcellin Champagnat
(1998)

26. THE TEACHER’S GUIDE
PART 1 EDUCATION
CH 1 EDUCATION IN GENERAL
CH 2 PHYSICAL EDUCATION
CH 3 INTELLECTUAL EDUCATION
CH 4 MORAL EDUCATION OF THE SENSIBILITY
CH 5 MORAL EDUCATION OF THE WILL
CH 6 CATHOLIC EDUCATION - RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
CH 7 CATHOLIC EDUCATION - FORMATION
CH 8 SOCIAL EDUCATION

27. IDEAS WORTH NOTING IN ONE CHAPTER OF
THE TEACHER’S GUIDE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

28. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arbués, B. (Ed.) (1998). In the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat A Vision for
Marist Education Today. Rome: The International Marist Education
Commission.
Bildt, C. (2016). West must fight ISIS ideology and treat them as terrorists. The
Australian.
Callick, R. (2016, 27th April). Religious groups wary of Xi's call for unyielding
'Marxist athiests'. The Australian, p. 10.
Church Documents on Catholic Education 1965-2002. (2004). Strathfield: St
Pauls.
Francis, P. (2013). Evangelii Gaudium. Strathfield: St Pauls.
Lanfrey, A. (In print). History of the Institute of the Marist Brothers Vol 1. Marist
Brothers. Rome.
McMahon, J. (2016). Catholic Schools and Universities: A Global View.
Champagnat, 18(1), 21-27.
Rusk, R. (Ed.) (1931). The Teacher's Guide. Grugliasco: Marist Brothers of the
Schools.