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Priests share thoughts: Schools help spread faith

By MICHELLE DELANEY, Globe staff reporter
(Email Michelle)

Sending a child to a Catholic school is a choice that influences not only the student’s education but also the faith of the child and the entire family.

Throughout the years, priests have witnessed several examples of students who have grown in their faith as a direct result of their education.

Being the pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Granville and the president of Spalding Catholic Schools, Father Richard Ball has seen the effects of a Catholic education directly.

“The students see the good news of Jesus Christ in every class, they witness it in our teachers and staff and it’s pervasive to our school,” said Father Ball. “That witness makes them very comfortable in talking about their faith and wanting to express their faith.”

One specific way Father Ball observes students growing strong in their faith is through reconciliation. He notes that he will have high school students stop in unexpectedly and request a couple minutes of his time for confession.

“I find it amazing that kids have become aware of how sin is devastating and they don’t want it in their lives. That’s tremendous spiritual growth that I see in our young people,” said Father Ball.

Father Clem Currans also notices Emmetsburg Catholic School students providing a great example of service and faith. Whether it’s through collecting canned goods for Thanksgiving and bringing it to Des Moines or going to nursing homes to sing Christmas carols, Father Currans sees a lot of students who are willing to volunteer their time to help others.

Right now, he has a seventh grade student who is very active in the church. She takes the initiative to use her musical talents in helping others. She often works with younger students in singing the liturgy.

“Seeing that makes me feel like something right is happening. We are getting students to get involved and to feel comfortable with the faith and church enough to do things like this,” said Father Currans.

In Catholic schools, students are immersed in an environment that is faith based. Teachers and staff are able to include Catholic beliefs into daily lesson plans. Seeing this regularly helps students explore their beliefs.

“I think we frequently see students come to life in their faith, which is one of the great blessings of the Catholic schools,” said Father Kevin Richter, president of Gehlen Catholic Schools and pastor at St. Joseph Church in Le Mars.

Father Richter also attributes student’s awareness of their faith to the multiple groups and activities offered through the school and diocese. He sees students who choose to join groups like the Christian Leadership Team and Students for Life.

Students active in the Christian Leadership Team spend their time putting their faith in action by helping others with various service projects. The members of Students for Life are involved in the constant battle against abortion.

“We are trying to make sure that students who start to have a growing awareness of their faith have the opportunity to develop that with other students,” said Father Richter.

Sending children to a Catholic school not only influences the student’s faith but it can also have a positive effect on the parents as well.

Father Terry Roder, pastor at St. Mary Church in Danbury and school board member at Danbury Catholic School, has seen just how Catholic schools can influence the entire family.

He vividly remembers a family who sent their child to Danbury Catholic School even though they were not members of the church. As a result of their child going to a faith-filled school, the family joined the parish and became active in their faith.

Volunteering in the community and church is something that is stressed in Catholic schools and Danbury is no exception. For example, each month students go to nursing homes in nearby towns and do activities with nursing home residents.

“It becomes so much of a habit that they don’t know they’re volunteering. It builds an attitude of this is what we do for each other as family and as Christians,” said Father Roder. “It teaches them to look out for the needs of others, to care about what’s happening and to be willing to sacrifice for the needs of others.”