By Irene Lagan
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 10/30/03)

ARLINGTON — Catholic school children enjoyed a break from their usual routine as teachers gathered for the 2003 Diocesan Institute at Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School in Arlington last Friday. The annual education fair, hosted by the Arlington Diocese Office for Catholic Schools, offers an opportunity for teachers to learn from an array of speakers on education-related issues. This year’s conference, titled "Shaping Tomorrow’s Educators Through Peace and Justice," centered on Catholic social thought, leadership skills, training and intercultural communication skills.

The day opened with a Mass for teachers celebrated by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, who recognized the loss of Msgr. James W. McMurtrie and his contribution to Catholic education in the diocese. Msgr. McMurtrie died Oct. 20 following a brief illness. He served as both principal and assistant principal at O’Connell during the 70s and was well-known and loved throughout the diocese.

"He was a stalwart supporter of Catholic education. He was a zealous and enthusiastic leader. His death is much cause for human sorrow. Even in this sorrow, give thanks to the Lord for this great leader in Catholic education," the bishop said.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy McNiff also expressed his regret at the loss of Msgr. McMurtrie.

"Our Diocesan Institute this year is somewhat bittersweet in that we mourn the loss of a good friend to Catholic education, yet the Office of Catholic Schools always welcomes the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of our students and staff," McNiff said. "This year's theme of focusing on Catholic social justice proves to be a wonderful testament to what Msgr. McMurtrie's life and Catholic schools are all about."

The bishop told teachers present that their role as Catholic educators was a vocation and a participation "in sharing the Church’s mission.
"Some days you are not conscious of this sharing in the Church’s mission. None the less, yours is a grace-filled mission. You are in fact involved in a pastoral initiative. In order to fulfill the mission God is giving you, you must be holy. I have not hesitation in saying all pastoral work is set in relation to holiness," said Bishop Loverde.

The path to holiness, he said, includes daily prayer, the Eucharist and reconciliation and some form of apostolic outreach.

"Your involvement in Catholic education is one tangible form of apostolic outreach," the bishop said. "From prayer you will gain wisdom and insight to give to the students. One integral part of this is peace and social justice."

Keynote speaker Joan Rosenhauer from the Department of Social Development and World peace at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), outlined the key elements of Catholic social teaching.

"The two essential parts of Catholic social tradition," she said, "can be broken down into thought and action. At heart, Catholic social thought is rooted in scripture. So often Catholics are involved in action without understanding Catholic social teaching, or focus on the teaching and not the action. I wonder how we can equip Catholic students to apply the message to daily life."

Rosenhauer said Catholic social teaching can be distilled into seven key themes, presented in a USCCB document titled "Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions."

The document, she said, is a "cliff notes version" of Catholic social thought and was designed to help Catholics grasp and articulate an essential part of the Church’s teaching that is often poorly understood. The seven themes include the life and dignity of the human person; a call to family community and participation; rights and responsibilities; an option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work and the rights of workers; solidarity; and care for God’s creation.

Beginning with an explanation of the Church’s teaching on the inherent dignity of the human person, Rosenhauer elaborated on each theme, and the implications of each for educators.

"You don’t need to reinvent the wheel," she told the teachers. "Connect the tradition of service in your schools to the tradition of thought. There are opportunities to expand social issues into what you teach in your classes. For instance, the upcoming election will is an opportunity to teach about dignity and about our rights and responsibilities.

I know you are already doing a lot, and I thank you for what you are doing," she said.

Deacon Patrick Moynihan from Providence, R.I., followed with an overview of the Haitian Project. In 1987, the Haitian Project opened the Louverture Cleary School for academically gifted children from some of the poorest neighborhoods in Haiti. The mission of the school is to educate and young people committed to the improvement of Haiti. The school, which now serves 260 children, seeks to balance academic training with social concerns. Deacon Moynihan has been president of Louverture Cleary for eight years.

"We have heard many times the famous quote ‘Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, but teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime’," he said. "But in reality, this is at best a half-truth, and at worst, a societal myth.

The problem is not what the saying does say. There is nothing wrong with fishing and teaching people to fish — no matter if we are talking real fish or fishing dollars out of the global market. As followers of Catholic social teaching, we promote the concept of subsidiarity, the empowering of people to solve problems at there most local level whenever possible," he continued. "However, as Catholics we are called to promote equally, maybe at times even more, the common good. The Catholic version of this proverb would end: ‘teach a person to fish and to share the catch and the world would eat.’"

Moynihan said there is no separating teaching to do and teaching to serve. "Being true to our faith and these principles, we must work as Catholic educators to create men and women of faith in action, knowledge and service."

A film titled "The Mass in Action" presented the work Louverture Cleary School for poor children in Haiti. The Haitian Project offers opportunities for students and educators in the diocese to serve the school in Haiti.

Breakout sessions throughout the afternoon allowed teachers the hear speakers on a range of topics, from discussing the ethics of war with children, to sharing specific ideas on various topics.