Induction presentation for new staff on Catholic Ethos. Acknowledgement: Kevin Treston: Eight Key Features of Christian Anthropology

1. Distinctive Catholic Ethos
“Root & Fruit”
Induction For New Staff
July 2014
St. Mary’s Catholic College
& Christ the King Catholic Primary School

2. Is Education About:
Getting a Job, Getting a
Life or Attaining Life
Hereafter?

3. What do You See or What Would You
Want to See
When You Look at a Faith School?

4. Perspective is Everything

5. Distinctive Schools
 Monsignor Roderick Strange (2008) writes about the
work of John Henry Newman:
“An academical system without the personal influence of
teachers upon pupils, is an arctic winter; it will create an
ice-bound, petrified, cast-iron University, and nothing
else’ (Historical Sketches iii. p.74). It was always the
same message: education is never merely a matter of
learning; it involves a care for the person as well … In so
many ways education was Newman’s line. He cared for
standards, but never forgot the person. He can be an
inspiration for teachers and for all of us.
So when you think of those who taught you, ask who
inspired you and how?”
(Strange, 2008)

6. RATIONALITY AND KNOWING
“A holistic appreciation of learning embraces a
wide spectrum such as, emotional, spiritual,
sensory, communal as well as cognitive
knowing. A good school provides opportunities
for the development of holistic learning through
an expansive curriculum. The ultimate goal of
all knowing in a religious tradition is the
attainment of wisdom. Wisdom is the art of
making life enhancing choices.”
Kevin Treston

9. Frankie
Goes To
Romano
Just In &
Just Out
Justice

10. “Then God said, let us make humankind in our own image … So
God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he
created them; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 126-27
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be
alone.”
Genesis 218
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God.”
John 11
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us.”
John 114
“I have come so that you may have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 1010

11. Our Root for Wisdom
“Then God said, let us make humankind in our own
image … So God created humankind in his image, in
the image of God he created them; male and female he
created them.”
Genesis 126-27
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man
should be alone.”
Genesis 218
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.”
John 11

12. “Then the Lord God formed man from the
dust of the ground, and breathes into his
nostrils the breath of life; and man became a
living being.”
Genesis 27

13. A God of Creation (Nature)
 Humans are Created in God’s image and
likeness – deserving of dignity and our
respect
 Humans as Relational Beings - People in
Community
 Humans as Moral Beings
 Humans as Earth People

14. God of Creation (Nature)
Self, Community & Relationships
 1. HUMANS ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF
GOD
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, God created people in God’s image
and likeness. Every person, created in God s image, is worthy of
dignity and respect, regardless of social status, ethnicity, religion or
culture.
 2. HUMANS ARE RELATIONAL BEINGS
Our lives are woven into the tapestry of other lives. The core
Christian metaphor for God is Trinity which images God as a
communion of relationships. The experience of community for a
Catholic school is not just some vague ideal but an essential mark of
the school’s authenticity as a Christian learning community.

15. God of Creation (Nature)
 3. MORAL BEINGS
A Christian anthropology insists that humans are moral
beings capable of choosing good or evil. We are born
both blessed and wounded into an imperfect world. A
deep awareness of, and commitment to gospel values in
the school’s curriculum, seek to foster the school’s
culture as morally good. Formation in ethical behaviour
pervades every aspect of school life.
 Mercy (Forgiveness)
 Reconciliation: Sacramental
 Justice (Reciprocity)
 Formative Moral Development

16. Discipline Within a Community
 Trinity - God of Relationships & God in Community
 Law of Love – Must be at Centre of Our Systems
 Mercy (Forgiveness) - Reconciliation: Sacramental
 Justice (Reciprocity) - Formative Moral Development
 Joy – Let’s tell our faces 
 The Good Shepherd/ess Form Tutors - Mentoring &
Positive intervention

17. God of Creation (Nature)
4. HUMANS AS EARTH PEOPLE
A Christian anthropology believes that humans are
created within an intricate network of life forms on the
earth and in the universe. The creation story images God
as creating men and women by breathing life into the
earth (Genesis 2:7). Humans have a special
responsibility for stewardship in creation. An authentic
Catholic school will honour the interconnectedness of
people with the whole of creation.
 Quality of the Physical Environment
 Whole College
 Departmental & Classrooms
 Sustainability, Eco-schools, efficient use of resources

18. “In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 11
“And the Word became flesh and lived
among us.”
John 114
“I have come so that you may have life, and
have it abundantly.”
John 1010
Our Root for Wisdom

19. A God of Incarnation (Grace)
 The Body is to be Respected
 Humans are Spiritual Beings
 Humans as Final Destiny People – back to
the Father we will go

20. God of the Incarnation (Grace)
A Life Transformed
 5. THE HUMAN BODY IS TO BE RESPECTED
Through the Incarnation, God, in the person of Jesus, fused together
our humanity and divinity.
 6. RATIONALITY AND KNOWING
A holistic appreciation of learning embraces a wide spectrum such
as, emotional, spiritual, sensory, communal as well as cognitive
knowing. A good school provides opportunities for the development
of holistic learning through an expansive curriculum. The ultimate
goal of all knowing in a religious tradition is the attainment of
wisdom. Wisdom is the art of making life enhancing choices.
Authentic faith-based schools encourage reflection, Sabbath spaces
and discernment in how decisions are made.

21. God of the Incarnation (Grace)
A Life Transformed
 Quality of the Human Environment
 Developing the “whole person”
 Spiritual & Moral Development
 Education “beyond the physical”
 Values based – Right & Wrong: Discuss!
 Curriculum R.E.
 Bishops’ Directory
 Bishops’ Directive

22.  7. HUMANS ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS
Within each person there is a yearning for ultimate meaning to
the great life questions such as, What does it mean to live,
given the fact that one day I will die? Comprehensive religious
education, prayer, works for justice, liturgical celebrations and
rituals affirm a sense of the sacred in the everyday life of the
school. The presence of God is acknowledged in the whole
curriculum.
 8. HUMANS AS FINAL DESTINY
A Christian anthropology believes that death is that phase of
human life which moves a person to another realm of
transformed being. This transformed human life is impossible
to describe.
Distinctive Education

23. The Fruit of Wisdom
Our Distinctive Ethos
 A distinctive Mission & Vision rooted in faith, the
dignity of the person and a “people in
community”
 A curriculum rooted in wisdom thinking where
the richness of all subjects are respected and
the spiritual & moral comes alive
 A Discipline and way of being born out of love &
enriching relations

24. Collective Worship & Charitable
Works Warp & Weft
 Rhythm of the Church’s Year
 Advent
 Lent
 Easter
 Everyone’s Responsibility
 Daily Act of Worship
 CD-ROM & Prayer Books
 Support - Chaplaincy Team & Pastoral Staff

25. Perspective is Everything

27. Sense of Vocation
Be the Self You Are Called to Be.
Bring Out the Same Self in Others.
“Building Communio”

28. I have come that you may have
life and have it to the fullest
John 1010