Ex Corde Ecclesiae (From the Heart of the Church, 1990)

Pope John Paul II

● For a school to be considered Catholic it must have the following “essential characteristics:”

○ Inspire “not only [the individual] but the…community”

○ “Reflection in the light of the Catholic faith upon the growing treasury of human knowledge, to which it seeks to contribute its own research”

○ “Fidelity to the Christian message as it comes to us through the Church.”

○ Be at “service of the people of God and of the human family in their pilgrimage to the transcendent goal which gives meaning to life.” (13)

● Our teaching needs to include, “the search for an integration of knowledge, a dialogue between faith and reason, an ethical concern, and a theological perspective” (15).

● “The salvific action of the Church on cultures is achieved, first of all, by means of persons, families and educators” (conclusion).

The Identity of the Catholic School for a Culture of Dialogue (Congregation for Catholic Education 2022)

● “We cannot create a culture of dialogue if we do not have identity” (2).

● “The very essence and raison d’etre (most important reason) of the Church’s historical presence in the field of education and schooling, in obedience to her mission to proclaim the Gospel by teaching all nations” (5).

● We have to share in the mission at it, “implies that educators must be willing to learn and develop knowledge and be open to the renewal and updating of methodologies, but open to spiritual and religious formation and sharing” (26).