Thursday, January 24, 2008

More praise for Lancaster school document

I asked at our diocesan school department whether they had a copy of the Lancaster `Fit for Mission?` document but they said they hadn`t got it yet. Other people seem to have received it, in the Vatican. I`ve already mentioned the previous Vatican praise for this document. Now there is more. H/T to Total Catholic.

New Vatican praise for bishop's education document

A groundbreaking education document produced by the Bishop of Lancaster has received further praise from the Vatican.

Fit for Mission? Schools had previously been praised by the Congregation for Clergy.

It has now also been singled out by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, as a “reliable resource for renewing the vitality of Catholic education in today’s society”.

The cardinal commended Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue on behalf of the congregation for his “initiative and work done to strengthen the values inherent in the Catholic school”.

Cardinal Grocholewski highlighted the publication’s “comprehensive” use of documents from the Holy See to support the Catholic ethos in schools on a diocesan level.

The implementation of the Fit for Mission? Schools programme will be developed throughout Lancaster over the course of this year.

The diocese’s education centre will facilitate and co-ordinate further consultation and implementation of the action plan among primary and secondary schools, and colleges.

The consultation will culminate in a diocesan conference in November 2008 to discuss the progress of the initiative overthe year.

Bishop O’Donoghue, currently on a pastoral visit to India at the invitation of the Syro-Malabar community, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the letter from Cardinal Grocholewski.

“It is so encouraging to learn that Fit for Mission? Schools has been commended by the Congregation that has authority over all Catholic schools and colleges throughout the world.”

He added: “I see it as yet another sign that our efforts at Lancaster are moving in the right direction.

“We are honestly trying to make our schools and parishes fit for mission – striving to communicate the Gospel with a freshness and energy to young and old.”

4 comments:

Dr. Peter H. Wright said...

I've heard about the document issued by the Bishop of Lancaster.

It seems to have made quite a stir.

If it results in authentic Catholic teaching returning to our Catholic schools, then that of course would be an excellent thing.

The present state of catechesis in many Catholic schools is appalling, and I don't know how it was allowed to happen.

As Father will know, there are in some scools generations of children growing up with inadequate knowledge of the Mass, the sacraments and the teaching of the Catholic Church.

If this process can be reversed, it will be a massive setback for Satan and his work.

Anonymous said...

It certainly is just what we have been waiting for..

Anonymous said...

would you like a copy of the document posted to you? it is easily arranged.

Fr Michael Brown said...

Thanks anon. I`ve read through it on the web but a hard copy would be very useful.