I could not agree with you more. Please pray for Catholic schools. Our is amazing but it was not always so. The wonderful priest we have as a teacher/chaplain, says that when he went to the school, it left a lot to be desired. A string of dynamic priests and a good religious ed director, have built up a strong religion department. Prayer groups, Masses and so much more, has resulted in a slow evolution that has deepened the spirituality of the school and set it on a strong course. I hope that along with your prayers, you also express dismay at this behavior to someone in the administration. Don’t concern yourself with what their reaction will be. That is on their shoulders. You just do the right thing and speak up for Christ–it’s an outrage that such unChristian behavior would be perpetrated by people that represent a Catholic school.

God bless you.

I’m simply saying, please look around at all of your options before making your choice. Not all Catholic Schools are the same. Many are WONDERFUL. I just think that what the school teaches during the day needs to be demonstrated after school as well.

My public school friends tell me that some public school districts are very flexible on Wednesdays about religion classes and that they are very heavy handed with discipline regarding sportsmanship. Some are not. I’m only repeating what I have been told. This is in WI.

They also tell me that it is frustrating that in High School sports, the Catholic Schools get to pick their own Officials while public schools are chosen for them by the State Ruling Athletic Board. They feel that this is why officiating problems can get so far out of hand so quickly as it did at the game I went to. It was maddening to watch.

My children are young and my husband will most likely be transferring in a few years, possibly to this area. I know where we will NOT be sending our children.

If I would have written that the public school parents surrounded a Catholic school bus waving their middle fingers, most adults, sending their children to Catholic High Schools would not have batted an eye. These were Catholic Adults and their hired coaches. I was, and continue to be, associated with “typical hypocritical Catholics” as they were called. The voice still and behaviors still haunts me.

Since I was a visitor, I did feel somewhat impartial and questioned why the officiating was so imbalanced toward SMC and why the SMC coaches were so very rude. At the same time, the visiting school, which was very difficult to observe across the field in the rain, seemed a bit lacking in control of their players at times and the fans were, at times, at bit rude. Perhaps, if the officials would have followed ALL of the rules things would not have gotten so far out of hand.

When the SMC coaches ran out on the field to celebrate the sacking of a High School QB, I wondered where their Catholic Faith was. When 5 members of the opposing team slid in the mud on this field, I wondered where things had gone so wrong.

As I left, I noticed the opposing team quieting boarding their bus with their coaches. Numerous “Good Catholic???” parents stood around these children with their middle fingers raised in the air and shouted obsenities at them. I believe I saw one or two of the teams coaches with them. I later went online and read the code of conduct for SMC and this behavior did not describe what they wanted to see from “Good Catholic Children.”

I will not be sending my children to this school nor would I recommend anyone else to either. As we Catholics try to stand strong amid bad press, we cannot condone this type of behavior from parents of students who are being coached by men and women who are inciting our children to behave in a manner that brings shame to our faith. I heard the mutterings of “typical hypacritical Catholics” from a fan from another school and I wanted to cry. THAT IS NOT THE BEHAVIOR OF A TRUE CATHOLIC!!!

SMC you might think that you have some reasons to complain about but please use this as an example of those men and women of the Bible who suffered greater pains and held their heads much higher in the name of our Lord. Shame on your coaches for NOT following the rules during the game. Shame on the officials for not making you, And shame on the rest of you who call yourself “Good Catholics” for your obscene demonstrations that night.

Of course, in a storm, a shelter is a good thing. When you do go out into the world and there are storms to weather–as there always are–then I hope the shelter of your religious upbringing will give you comfort and protection.

I know nothing about your school, so of course I have no idea if it’s all it could be in terms of preparing you for the world. You are feeling pressured to the priesthood. I agree that such an approach is not how one hears God’s call. I only hope that your Catholic faith provides some guidance and protection when you embark into the future.

God bless you,
Patti

I’m wondering what kind of school you go to? Someone emailed me wondering if it was a Legion of Christ school. Bismarck is #5 for seminarians per capita in the country. I know the vocations director and I have 5 boys that have gone through the Catholic high school. I can vouch for the fact that kids are encouraged but NEVER pressured.

It’s unfortunate to have young people at Mass not being respectful, but if you have a Catholic school and then say: “Who wants to go to Mass and who doesn’t?” then you have a chaotic atmosphere. Parents give their children an education because it is important. They also give them religion because it’s even more important. Ultimately, kids will grow up and decide for themselves. Attending Mass is beautiful and powerful and should be a part of the Catholic school experience. If there are people with bad attitudes, that’s unfortunate but inevitable. At least they are in a place where God is present, and who knows, maybe something will get through. If not, well, are these kids allowed to be disrespectful in history class? If they are, does that give them a free pass to leave? Why are you so quick to want to exclude religion when people have bad attitudes?

And what about you? Do you ever stand up for your faith, defend God and tell kids that their behavior is disrespectful, not just to the other kids but to the God you worship? It’s hard to speak out sometimes, but remember, Jesus told us that if you were ashamed of Him before man, He would be ashamed of you in Heaven. I know I slaughtered that quote but you get the idea. And if the kids give you a bad time for defending God, then remember, “Blessed are those that are persecuted for my sake.”

I understand everything you are saying. I was always one to question things too and I have a some kids that are doing that right now. In the end, I can only teach them and lead them. They will be the ones to ultimately choose their own course.

God bless you!

Another disagreement with our catholic school system, and our church as a whole i have is the pressuring of young men to enter the priesthood. I would first off like to say that men should not be told to enter the priesthood, but to listen for God’s call to become a priest. Not ever man age 17 is called by God to become a priest. Yes every man should consider this, but they should also consider single life, and married life as well. In Marriage and vocations class we have had two weeks of class worth of lectures and videos of why we should become priests.Today a teacher told me (and i quote) i believe you are rejecting a call from God to become a priest by commiting to this college. That is absolutely ridiculous. My teacher has no idea if i am called by God to become a priest. We need not to be persuaded to become priests, but learn how to listen for Gods call for our vocation, if that may be priesthood or married life or single life.

I hear you. Keep in mind that I have teens and young adults now. All my kids that went to the Catholic school (the oldest didn’t) are very glad that they did. I have two black kids. They were the minority of 2. Have you seen the movie Blindside? That’s so much like my second son from Kenya–the great athlete, struggling from early education deprivation in a very white environment. Yet, they too are so glad they went to St. Mary’s.

I know what you are saying regarding forced Mass, forced confession, etc. But is your education also forced? Face it, we parents have an obligation to give you all that God has to offer. It’s our job to force education, health care, and a host of other things. At this stage, we cannot allow you to reject Catholic teaching and practices (no we can’t force you to love it, we just want you to) What happens at St. Mary’s, is that due to the strong spirituality, the kids stop feeling forced (if they ever did) and begin to embrace it. Some kids that started out partying, have ended up in the priesthood. I think we are #5 in the country for per capita seminarians. Catholic practices are not bad things, they are gifts. We don’t want to force them on you, we want to give them to you in hopes you will receive them.

One of my sons, Luke, is now in Guatemala working as the program director for the God’s Child Project. Another son spent 3 months there and now lives in MN with my oldest. Their sheltered high school years were really not sheltered, they were guided.

Yes, you will find elitism and all sorts of bad qualities in Catholic schools is you look for them. Jesus had apostles with bad qualities such as Peter’s impulsiveness, all but John ran away and I can’t speak for every Catholic school in the country. I know not all of them are as good as ours. But I’m wondering if you are so busy rebelling against the Catholic school that you are rejecting all that it has to offer? Wonderful that you are ready to be out in the world and leave a sheltered environment. I just hope and pray that you don’t leave the integrity of your Catholic faith behind. Go out and be Catholic, loving others and being an example of Christ.