Chapter 8: HISTORY God’s truth is revealed through Scripture and Tradition
History shapes people and groups providing insight into and understanding about WHO THEY HAVE BEEN
Catholicism was shaped by events of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter Reformation
Vatican II caused a paradigm shift in the Church’s thinking about itself and the world Its full impact is still unfolding.
American Catholics have an immigrants history
History is unfolding today Costs to operate Catholic Schools are skyrocketing Too Much Sacrifice?
Looking back at history… Find earlier struggles of equal or greater magnitude Catholics were a poor migrant people
Catholics today have more resources and political and social clout than ever PROBLEM is a crisis of COMMITMENT
History Builds Community A school’s history can reveal origins and evolutions of core values
History enables a school to give to students a much needed anchor for future development
Most respected and sought after schools have a rich history and long-standing traditions
History flows from the faith tradition in a Catholic School Easier to pass on the religious heritage when religious orders operated schools
Intentionality needed Today Passing on the religious heritage requires deliberate and systematic thought and attention by principals
2 types of Catholic Heritage Latitudinal Heritage – shared heritage among Catholic Schools Longitudinal Heritage – the history of a particular Catholic school
Each school’s history contains people and events shaping the school today
Archive It! Need a designated person to organize the history, update it and archive it
Display of a School’s History tells someone what the school holds Sacred Statue or founder or patron Pictures of graduating classes Athletic trophies Pictures of the casts of school plays
Celebrate the Religious History! Patron’s Feast Day Catholic School’s Week
Celebrate School Anniversaries Celebration and Rallying Point for entire school community
Case Study All Saints Catholic School is celebrating 150 th anniversary – Committee – Artifacts Mr. Seitz is passionate about history – Makes history lessons relevant to students. – Sees this as opportunity for students to learn of rich history and be involved in celebrating it.
Case Study Mr. Seitz and the committee. Involve students: – Latitudinal Heritage – Longitudinal Heritage Permanent Display