Catholic Exchange

Book Review: Saving America’s Urban Catholic Schools: A Guide for Donors

• Education
• Monday, April 5th, 2010
• Greg Fazzari

Catholic Schools and philanthropy have been mutual beneficiaries of each other throughout history.  A guidebook has been published by the Philanthropic Roundtable on how philanthropists can best support urban Catholic Schools.  This Roundtable is committed to helping donors improve K-12… Read More

Blueprint for Change: Funding Catholic Schools

• Archives
• Monday, March 22nd, 2010
• Greg Fazzari

Several of us sat in stunned disbelief.  Announcements of this sort are rarely well received — but there were a lot of people justifiably hurt at this one.  The meeting was for Catholic School families and we were listening to… Read More

Faith Enlightening Education, Part Seven: Spoiled Brats and Thankful Hearts

• Archives
• Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
• Greg Fazzari

The food was placed on the table and all of us were ready to dig-in.
“Bless us oh Lord, and these thy gifts…”
We all reached immediately for the food, BUT mom called out “wait!” She reminded all to place… Read More

Faith Enlightening Education, Part Six: The Key to Interpreting Reality

• Archives
• Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
• Greg Fazzari

The key for interpreting reality — that’s worth knowing!
One of the greatest thinkers of our times once said: “This is truly the key for interpreting reality ”… Are we interested? This great thinker was not an actor, sports figure,… Read More

Faith Enlightening Education, Part Five: Freedom, Charity and the Masters of Suspicion

• Archives
• Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
• Greg Fazzari

What if they love each other” Clare asked. We had just read the Catechism explanation on the sinfulness of homosexual behavior. “Who are we to keep people from loving each other?”
“Nobody can keep people from loving each other” the… Read More

Faith Enlightening Education, Part Four: Freedom, Choices and Standards

• Archives
• Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
• Greg Fazzari

“Why do we have to have a dress code anyhow” Nick asked. Nick was in detention once again for violating the dress code. “I thought this country was founded on freedom”.
“So you don’t think we should have a dress… Read More

Faith Enlightening Education, Part Three: Construction and Instruction

• Archives
• Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
• Greg Fazzari

“What do you teach?” the speaker asked.
“Mathematics’, I answered.
“No, you teach children, not mathematics” he responded with a triumphal note. “You teach children – don’t forget that”.
Even a math-guy knew there was some verbal slight-of-hand taking place.… Read More

Faith Enlightening Education: Part Two, Do We Discover Truth or Create Truth?

• Archives
• Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
• Greg Fazzari

“If everybody stopped believing in God, would He cease to exist?” Mike asked.
“Excuse me?” said the teacher, not sure he was being serious.  Mike, a senior, could be a bit of a comedian at times.
“If everybody stopped believing… Read More

Faith Enlightening Education: Part One, Know Whom You Teach

• Archives
• Friday, July 3rd, 2009
• Greg Fazzari

A dog-trainer taught me one of my most valuable lessons on education: know who you are educating. This took place in my first series of training lessons with my dog CJ. Why was my dog so bad? Barking out orders… Read More

Catholic Schools: The Need for Communion

• Archives
• Monday, April 7th, 2008
• Greg Fazzari

Good food and good company — it doesn't get any better than that. Growing up in an Italian family, holy days were always celebrated by traditional meals shared with the greater family. It was good food and good company — communion.

This came to mind this past holiday season as I was reading the latest document produced by the Congregation of Catholic Education, called "Educating Together in Catholic Schools". One of the major themes of this document is communion. The writings of both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI often take up this same theme. What is the importance of communion? What is the Church trying to tell us?