Why Catholic School

We have decided to send the boys to Catholic school for Jr. High and High School. I often say it's because I think the Catholics do education very well. But after listening to a couple of podcast recently, I think there is something more to it as well.

I heard two stories recently about Jews that were absolutely intriguing. Both stories remind me of my fondness for both Jews and Catholics. The first was about a Jewish couple who were orthodox and yet had left the fold. Hockey was the agent of change. They didn't have very strong beliefs in the way that evangelical Christians have strong beliefs - but they behaved in such a way that you'd think they must have a very deep spiritual connection to the Almighty. They kept kosher, they didn't work on the sabbath, they dressed a certain way and in effect they did much more to exhibit their faith and gave up WAY more than I might (fashion, convenience, etc.) to remain faithful. The podcast told how they wanted to see a hockey game at Madison Square Garden on a Saturday, but they couldn't drive on the Sabbath. So they walked. They walked to Madison Square Garden: starting from New Jersey across the GW Bridge to MSG. And after all that, the Rangers Lost. The man's wife said, "We should have driven." They felt God had abandoned them. They had been faithful, not breaking any commandment, and the Rangers had LOST. The man ate a hot dog on their way home, a 'screw you' to God and his culinary demands. So fascinating! What is compelling is that this couple would live in such a way that they wouldn't drive on a Saturday and yet the outcome of a sporting event could derail their faith. And I realize that what holds these people in their faith is often their community, not always their beliefs.



The other story was about a Jewish brother and sister. He abandoned his faith and became an evangelical Christian. His sister went on a personal quest to try and re-establish their relationship. Once he left his Judaism behind, he also abandoned that sense of community. He isolated himself in a very closed, evangelical community that didn't interact at all with anyone outside of their exact beliefs. He had no relationship with his family at all.


I perceive that Catholics are sort of 'outside-in' kind of believers. There are all these things that they DO and those things keep them in their faith and in community. What appeals to me is that even during times when my kids might lose their faith or question their faith, with a Catholic influence they could learn to stay on the journey even as their beliefs might wane. There is a habit of doing even if the underpinning of that loosens. I want them to develop those habits of prayer and meditation, service and responsibility, as well as a sense of belonging to the faith community even when they may not feel like it...