Are You Ready to Go Forth and Lead?

Catholic elementary schools are housed in one of the most well-known and highly praised systems of education in America. They are universally known for producing well-rounded, accomplished students that can navigate easily through high schools and institutes of higher learning. These systems are established in all parts of the country and have a history and reputation that is quite successful and pronounced.

What we don’t see these schools releasing onto the world are leaders that carry their faith boldly into their workplaces, into leadership positions of government and into business.

Oh yes, there are a few . . . so few, you can look them up and name them. Not an army of Catholic leaders that change their worlds with their strong faith and high moral standards, that you would expect this highly developed, historical school system to produce.

Why is that? Why are we not producing strong Catholic leaders that would share their beliefs and draw others to their faith lives? It is a question worth asking and one we need desperately to find the answer.

These are not just my observances. Matthew Kelly, well-known speaker and writer, designed his Dynamic Catholic organization to offer better, more engaging resources to excite people in the faith. He mentions often that we need to do something drastically different, as our numbers are sadly declining.

The numbers of Catholic school graduates that even attend church is disappointingly low. The Catholic church, despite having the best private school system in America, is not producing Catholics, strong or otherwise. Quite the opposite. Catholic education has not helped at all with the mad rush of young people leaving the Church and we aren't, very often, making a stand in our communities with Catholic, faith driven leadership.

We can cite the failing domestic family and the culture of materialism, but frankly, some of this is on us. I think it’s time we look from outside the box at Catholic schools and see what we’re missing. Much has been written and spoken about the importance of getting our teens and young adults excited and flocking back to the church, and rightly so.

But perhaps our efforts should turn to an earlier age. Perhaps we should concentrate on developing strong Catholics in our elementary schools, so they have the base to endure the temptations and spiritual drought of their teen and young adult years when so many decisions are made that affect the rest of their lives.

There are many things happening in our favor, in the younger years. Up until 5th or 6th grade, children still want to please the adults in their lives, parents and teachers. There is no easier time to present the mysterious and magical truths of Catholicism and have them so easily take our words as truth. We have many Catholic curriculums published that cover this base very thoroughly.

But somehow the connection isn’t made complete. It doesn’t really take. Not unlike Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, Catholicism becomes a nice idea, a fond memory of a loving Father or a guardian angel, often abandoned with childhood.

And it’s too bad because this is the time we have, the opportunity before us, well laid out and paid for, that we could and should grab these children with everything we have and grow them into Catholic leaders that take their faith and share it with the world.

So, how do we do this? First, we must recognize there are three distinct points that need to be addressed.

1) Students must have a faith encounter that draws them close to Christ, with additional tools and community to help maintain their faith life.

2) Students need evangelical tools and avenues of action to be able to make a difference in the world.

3) Students need leadership skills to be influential in their social and work circles.

Simplified, they have to "get it" and then be able to "share it."

Follow along as we learn in this four-part series how we can go forth and lead our Catholic students to encounter Christ in their lives, share their faith and lead others, also, to grow God’s kingdom.