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?
The answer may be the same as what makes traditional holiday feasts so enjoyable — we commune with our past (rooted in God) and we commune with each other.
The traditional meals in the Italian culture include customary menus and recipes. If the food is not right, the meal is disappointing — it becomes artificial. At the same time, the meal is always eaten together as a family. Good food is meant to be shared with others. The meal is a gift of communion. The gift is nourished by past traditions and by present company.
The same must be true of our Catholic Schools! As the document "Educating Together in Catholic Schools" explains, Communion is twofold:
8 …The communion to which man is called always involves a double dimension, that is to say vertical (communion with God) and horizontal (communion with people). It is fundamental that communion be acknowledged as a gift of God, as the fruit of the divine initiative fulfilled in the Easter mystery.[10]
The twofold aspect of communion is life-giving. It is a part of each individual's faith journey. But communion is also important for Church ministries (like Catholic schools). Catholic schools must embrace both aspects of communion in order to become the fruitful ministries they are called to be.
Let's consider the consequences to a Catholic school that neglects either aspect of communion.
The most glaring mistake that a Catholic school can make is a lack of communion with God and our past (vertical communion). This manifests itself by disobedience and disinterest in the Church and her teachings. With this wound, every other part of communion is hampered. A one-dimensional understanding of communion ensues — it is artificial. With communion solely defined as acceptance of one another, tolerance becomes the key prerogative. Dissension is seen as the greatest evil. Even the remedy of returning to communion with God is perceived as dissent and is thus swiftly dismissed. The result is a sad substitute for what might have been.
Catholic Schools could also lack horizontal communion. Every child should have the opportunity to attend a Catholic school. The faith cannot be embraced without a desire to share it. Our faith is a gift, and it must become a gift that keeps on giving. We cannot become judgmental and closed in ourselves as we look upon others who may be ignorant or struggling. We first look to the development of our own families, but we can never be satisfied if there are children in our parish family that are slighted. Catholic schools must remember the missionary character of our faith.
A Catholic School must embrace the Church, celebrate the saints, and reach out to all within the parish and community to share its vision of life. This complete communion will make Catholic school truly vibrant. The Truths from Tradition are not sacrificed for some supposed communion amongst the constituents. And these truths are embraced as gifts that must be shared with the greater society as we seek to build the kingdom.
The school becomes the beneficiary of the spiritual and material support of the parishes involved. In return, the school gives back to society, members that have a solid perspective on who man is and how life should be lived. Catholic schools help change society by building strong morals and convictions within its students. Virtuous young men and women are unleashed to be a leaven in our world.
The Catholic school also engages society within the educational establishment. Teachers and administrators become involved in discussions on state standards and instructional strategies. Within every professional educational organization, Catholic teachers and administrators should be constructively engaged in these discussions to better the educational process for all. The Catholic school thus can become a leaven to the public educational system.
Great Catholic schools are like great traditional Italian meals. If the recipe is tampered with and the food becomes unsavory, the meal is tasteless and the very purpose for the communion is lost. Likewise Catholic schools cannot break their ties with Christ and His Church. This is breaking from the very source of communion.
On the other hand, why make a meal for yourself? Â Every great chef knows that cooking is meant to be a gift to others. The greatest of recipes are worthless if nobody has the opportunity to experience them. Likewise, Catholic schools must see themselves as a remedy for society — a necessary institution to provide our society with members that can share a hope and vision that can bring about a culture of abundant life.
