Catholic School Community

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Five of Seven

This is the fifth of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

As a young priest and pastor I came to this way of looking at young people and at youth, and it has remained constant all these years. Anywhere the Pope goes, he seeks out the young and the young seek him out. Actually, in truth, it is not the Pope who is being sought out at all. The one being sought but is Christ, who knows “that which is in every man” (cf. Jn 2:25), especially in a young person, and who can give true answers to his questions!

Principle Five for Catholic Educators:  Understand and nurture that the one being sought out by your students is Christ, who can give true answers to his/her questions.

 

 

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Four of Seven

This is the fourth of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

It is this vocation to love that naturally allows us to draw close to the young. It is necessary to teach them love. As a young priest I learned to love human love. This has been one of the fundamental themes of my priesthood – my ministry in the pulpit, in the confessional, and in my writing.

Principle Four for Catholic Educators:  Practice the vocation to love and teach the children love. Make it the theme of your teaching.

 

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Three of Seven

 

This is the third of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

During that time he searches, like the young man in the Gospel, for answers to basic questions; he searches not only for the meaning of life but also for a concrete way to go about living his life. This is the most fundamental characteristic of youth. Every mentor, beginning with parents, let alone every pastor (and teacher), must be aware of this characteristic and how to identify it in every boy and girl. I will say more: He (she) must love this fundamental aspect of youth.

Principle #3 for Catholic Educators: Be aware of, identify, and love, that each young person is searching for a concrete way to go about living her/his life, and teach accordingly. As a Catholic educator it is vital that we develop a rapport with students that is a prudent combination of familiarity and distance.  Educators can never forget that students need a companion and guide during their period of growth.

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle Two of Seven

This is the second of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

"My most memorable experience of that period, when my pastoral activities concentrated above all on the young, was the discovery of the fundamental importance of youth. What is youth? It is not only a period of life that corresponds to a certain number of years, it is also a time given by Providence to every person and given to him as a responsibility." 

Principle Two for Catholic Educators:   Believe in and validate the fundamental importance of youth, as a time given by Providence –  not only a period in life but a responsibility that is developed and nurtured through your partnership with parents in the formation of the whole child.

 

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young, Principle One of Seven

This is the first of a series of seven principles for Catholic educators based on the words and actions of John Paul II as he conveyed in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

"The experiences of teachers and pastors confirm, today no less than yesterday, the idealism present in young people, even if nowadays it perhaps tends to be expressed mostly in the form of ciiticism, whereas before it would have been translated more simply into duty."

Principle One for Catholic Educators:  Know, nurture, and celebrate the idealism present in young people and help to intsill in them a sense of gratitude and duty.

 

Is There Really Hope in the Young?

The turnout for the beatification of Blessed John Paul II far exceeded even the most optimistic expectation of 1 million people, the number Rome city officials predicted. This was also true of World Youth Day in 1993. It was thought no more than 60,000 young people would make that pilgrimage, when a throng of nearly 600,000 attended--often chanting "John Paul II we love you." And a quarter million pilgrims were with him in an Easter Week deathwatch in 2005. This charismatic saint-to-be attracted all ages but had a special connection with youth. His life and ways serve as a wonderful model for Catholic educators. In this Easter season I will offer seven principles for educators based on Blessed John Paul's reflections in Crossing the Threshold of Hope.