Vision 08 - A Vision for Catholic Education in Ireland
Sr Elizabeth Maxwell's statement at the media launch for
the pastoral letter for education
St Patrick’s National School, Drumcondra, Dublin - 12 May 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen:
President of the Conference of Religious in Ireland
As President of the Conference of Religious in Ireland I represent the Religious Congregations in Ireland. As Provincial of the N. Province of the Presentation Sisters I am one of six Religious leaders appointed by CORI to the Strategic Task Group on Education and I co-chair the group with Bishop Leo O’Reilly.
CORI & IEC
I welcome the publication of the Pastoral Letter from the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference – Vision 08 – A Vision for Catholic Education in Ireland. I am very happy that this Letter is the result of an ongoing partnership and teamwork between the Conference of Religious of Ireland and the Irish Bishops’ Conference in the area of Education.
ONE CHURCH APPROACH
In February 2005 both Conferences held a joint meeting to discuss the future of Catholic Education on the island of Ireland. The meeting identified the need for a One Church approach to education. The outcome was the establishment of a Strategic Task Group on Education (STGE) consisting of six bishops and six Religious leaders.
COMPREHENSIVE VISION
Early in the work of the STGE it became clear that it was necessary to develop a broad vision for the Catholic School that would underpin the mission of the Church in education. Religious Congregations, Trust Bodies, Catholic School Management Associations, individual schools and others have done trojan work in formulating vision for Catholic Education.
However, in order to achieve a unified approach, it is urgent to have a well articulated, wide-ranging and comprehensive vision for the Catholic School that will be accessible to all the partners and stakeholders in Catholic Education.
The Bishops’ Letter sets out the core elements of the Catholic School. Work on the pastoral has been in progress for the past three years and is the fruit of wide consultation. It is our hope and firm purpose that it will form the bedrock of the life and work of our schools.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION SERVICE
In the coming months a Catholic Education Service for Ireland, North and South will be established. The Service is the first concrete step in providing a One Church approach to Catholic Education. Over the years Catholic Education has been assured by the hard work of many partners and stakeholders. To enable a vibrant future the Catholic Education Service will provide support and cohesion where possible.
RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS & EDUCATION
We the Religious of Ireland are committed to Catholic Schools. We are proud of our contribution to the education mission of the Church in Ireland over two hundred years. We have not withdrawn from Catholic education. On the contrary, we are anxious to contribute to the continuation of Catholic education in the tradition of our founders and foundresses into the future. To ensure that this will happen Religious Congregations have devoted much energy over the past ten years to developing new models for the trusteeship of schools. Increasingly we have involved lay people in assuring the distinctive ethos of our schools into the future.
As the Vatican Document of 1982 LAY CATHOLICS IN SCHOOLS: WITNESSES TO FAITH states:
“For it is the lay teachers, and indeed all lay persons,
believers or not, who will substantially determine whether
or not a school realizes its aims and accomplishes its objectives.”
Par. 1
May the vision outlined in this pastoral letter inform the mission and work of all Catholic schools in Ireland.
ENDS
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