Beyond the Classroom: Renewing Catholic Identity in Every Corner of Life

By Ali Paglia

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Diocese of Colorado Springs is entering a new era for Catholic education, one marked by deeper faith, stronger community partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to forming missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. This transformation is not simply a refinement of current practices, but rather a reawakening to the true mission of Catholic education, to integrate faith into every corner of life and to build a culture where Catholic identity flourishes not only in the classroom, but in homes, parishes, and the broader world.

At the very heart of this renewal lies a powerful conviction: Catholic identity must be lived, not just taught. Schools will no longer operate as individual institutions of faith formation but as vibrant epicenters of evangelization, working hand in hand with parishes to draw families into deeper communion with Christ and his Church. Catholic education is not an isolated ministry, it is the Church’s front line in the evangelization of the next generation, and their families.

Families are the domestic Church, and Catholic schools are uniquely positioned to serve as the bridge between faith lived at school and faith nurtured at home. This bridge must be intentionally built and faithfully walked. To this end, each school will designate a faculty or staff member or form a team, who will collaborate closely with the principal and pastor to lead efforts in parental evangelization. These leaders will gather throughout the year to share best practices, inspire one another, and develop new strategies for engaging families in meaningful ways.

Teachers, too, will be empowered to step into this mission more fully. Equipped with the right tools, training, and support, they will become ambassadors of the Gospel, extending the faith formation they offer students into the lives of parents and guardians. This will create a ripple effect, beginning in the classroom and spreading into homes so that the Gospel is not only heard, but lived. Parents will be regularly invited to engage in parish life and experience the joy of growing in faith alongside their children, strengthening the sacred bond between school, parish, and family.

This vision for Catholic identity does not stop at the school doors. Every parish in the diocese, whether or not it houses a school, is being called into deeper relationship with Catholic education. Parishes have a shared responsibility to support and participate in the formation of young disciples. Schools, in turn, will actively reach out to neighboring parishes to build bridges, share their mission, and collaborate on evangelization efforts. The diocese will provide pastors with clear guidance to integrate Catholic schools into the broader life of parish catechesis and mission, creating a unified pastoral approach across the region.

At the core of this spiritual renewal are the educators themselves. Catholic teachers and school leaders are more than professionals — they are missionaries, called to witness Christ in all they do. Each school will create a Faith Formation Team responsible for supporting the ongoing spiritual growth of faculty and staff. These teams will receive training and guidance over the summer to develop customized formation plans that enrich the spiritual lives of educators throughout the school year. The diocese’s annual Aquinas Catechetical Institute will continue to provide every teacher with foundational theological knowledge.

Students will also experience this renewed focus in engaging and deeply personal ways. Their journey of faith will be grounded in a real relationship with Jesus Christ, nurtured through daily prayer, participation in the sacraments, and active service. Schools will explore and adopt innovative religious curriculum and teaching methods that captivate students’ minds and inspire their hearts. Ongoing surveys will ensure student voices are heard and used to improve programs, helping schools identify which retreat experiences, prayer practices, and classroom moments have the most lasting impact on faith formation.

Through these wide-reaching and interconnected efforts, the Diocese of Colorado Springs is not just strengthening its schools, it is reimagining them as dynamic centers of evangelization, community, and enduring faith. This vision moves beyond traditional models of education and embraces a holistic, mission-driven approach where every element of school life reflects the light of the Gospel. Catholic identity is no longer confined to a religion class or sacramental milestone, it becomes a living, breathing presence woven into the very fabric of the school day. From morning prayer to academic excellence, from staff formation to family outreach, faith becomes the foundation, the framework, and the future.

(Ali Paglia is a marketing and communication specialist for the Office of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.