99+Reading+3

Putney, M. E. (2005). The Catholic school of the future, //The Australasian Catholic Record//, 82(4), pp. 387-398.


 * Michael Putney: The Catholic School of the Future – Reading Three **

· ** The complexity of the modern world makes it all the more necessary to increase the awareness of the ecclesial identity of the Catholic school (p. 393). ** // In response, nurturing the Catholicity in our schools is a very important task and should not be taken for granted, nor should quick fixes be put into place to ensure a secure future for Catholic schools. (Gina Bennewith - teacher) // · ** A Catholic school needs to be the bearer of the full richness of the Catholic Tradition not only through its religious education program but in every aspect of its life (p.394). ** //In response, as educators we must work with our charism to help make our families embrace our Catholic identity and make links to real life experiences which ultimately can help them to make meaning of their lives and commit to passing on the Catholic faith to the next generation. (Gina Bennewith - teacher)//

· ** One of the sad realities facing the Church in Australia which has this enormous responsibility of including its schools in its pastoral mission and ensuring that they continue to have the ecclesial identity; the Church itself is struggling in some ways at this moment in its history. Diminished numbers of participants in the life its parishes, reduced number of religious and priests and struggling to maintain the embrace of its schools (p.395). ** // In response, our college is also subjected to the many challenges faced by the modern 21st century. The families enrolled at St Anthony’s are predominately from Catholic families however this is declining with an increasing number of enrollments from non-Catholic and non-practicing Catholic families. (Gina Bennwith - teacher) // · ** We have to embrace the Church, and love it, and struggle with it if we want to be faithful to Christ. That is the Catholic vision (p.397). ** In response, It is now that we must be strong and united with the church when faced with these challenges in the 21st century. (Gina Bennewith - teacher)

· ** Being part of the Church is part of our response to Christ and how we deal with the Church is integral to the way we deal with Christ. This has to be true of our schools as well (pp. 397-398). **