Catholic identity in schools is key subject at annual Principals’ Meeting

On Aug. 21, many of the Catholic school principals that will serve the Diocese of Buffalo beginning this fall gathered at Southtowns Catholic School in Lake View. The annual principals’ meeting saw team building exercises, an examination of Catholic Identity, a marketing and communication workshop, and an update on the strategic plan for Catholic schools.

“What is our mission as Catholic schools? What is our charge as Catholic school principals to fulfill this mission? How are we going to do this?” asked Julie Gajewski, assistant superintendent of academics for the diocese, kicking off the day. “It’s really simple. Our mission as Catholic Schools is to teach, to serve, and to evangelize. Hopefully, over the next few months, through the strategic planning process, we hope to collaborate to define what does that look like. What does it look like in your schools? We want people to walk into any one of your schools and it is visible to them, that they see that we are teaching, serving and evangelizing; that there is a culture, a charism. As they walk through your halls they can feel it alive in your buildings.”

Gajewski outlined the role of Catholic schools as not just preparing students for college and job readiness, but as preparing them to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

“We’re trying to prepare our children for sainthood. We’re trying to prepare them as lifelong learners, no matter what their career,” she said. “We’re trying to develop students who will develop and find their own gifts and talents to find purpose and meaning in this world.”

Lisa Benzer, director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Buffalo, also spoke on how to implement and boost Catholic identity.

She has watched her own children attend Catholic schools. “We see, as parents from the outside, what you’re doing every day on the inside,” she told the principals.

Benzer suggested principals connect with their parish’s director of religious education. She sees Faith Formation and Catholic schools as having the same goals – form children for Christ so they know, love and serve God. Both fall under the Forming Disciples Pillar in the Family of Parishes model.

“Your director of religious ed is doing these things all day long with the family community,” she said. “They are constantly coming up with resources and ways to engage families in the process of the faith. If you tap into their resources, their materials and all of the other conveniences that they can lend to your job, it would be a seamless and very symbiotic relationship.”

Benzer also recommends use of Catechetical Institute, a digital platform that allows principals to form their own staff to be effective role models.

Chris Riso, assistant superintendent of government programs, encouraged the principals to celebrate their students, parents and staff, and advised that they share ideas and rely on one another.

“We all have different school communities that we serve, but we all are leaders of teachers, we are supporters of parents, and we make sure our students are getting the education and Catholic identity components that they need,” he said.