Strengthening Faith and Academics

By Ali Paglia

In today’s secular world, we believe that Catholic education, which integrates faith and learning in a meaningful way, is more important than ever.

Both “The Holy See’s Teaching on Catholic Schools” by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, Archbishop Emeritus of Vancouver and former Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, and “Renewing Catholic Schools: How to Regain a Catholic Vision in a Secular Age” by the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education offer valuable insights on how Catholic schools can successfully navigate this challenge. These works emphasize that Catholic education should not only focus on intellectual development but also on the moral and spiritual formation of students, helping them grow as faithful disciples who are intellectually capable and morally responsible.

The Diocese of Colorado Springs’ “Illuminating Our Path” strategic growth plan closely aligns with these principles, ensuring that our Catholic schools foster not just academic excellence but also nurture the faith and spiritual lives of our students. This comprehensive plan outlines a PreK-12 education system that balances academic rigor with the formation of Catholic identity, creating a cohesive educational experience that supports our students in every aspect of their growth — intellectual, moral, social, and spiritual.

Our focus on a PreK-12 mindset is particularly important, as it creates continuity in students’ education from early childhood through high school, ensuring they receive a consistent experience that integrates faith and academics. This model reflects Archbishop Miller’s vision, where faith is embedded in every subject, allowing students to see their studies through the lens of Catholic values. In doing so, we ensure that faith isn’t an afterthought but an integral part of our students’ academic journey.

In alignment with these teachings, we are committed to integrating Catholic principles into all content areas. Whether our students are learning math, science, history, or language arts, Catholic values such as compassion, justice, and respect are woven into academic standards. This approach allows students to approach their studies with a Catholic worldview, understanding how their academic knowledge can be used to serve others and contribute positively to society. To help our teachers effectively implement this approach, each school is developing curriculum maps and providing ongoing professional development through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), ensuring that all educators are equipped to integrate faith into their instruction and teach students to see the world through a Catholic lens.

Our plan also emphasizes the importance of co-curricular programs, which are key to fostering the development of character, leadership, and emotional well-being. These programs, such as sports, arts, and various clubs, offer our students opportunities to collaborate, be creative, and serve their communities. Through these activities, students develop the virtues of leadership, teamwork, and social responsibility, all while learning how to live out their faith in action. These experiences complement academic learning by helping students build skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Further reflecting Archbishop Miller’s teachings, we are working to create a graduate profile that articulates the essential competencies, skills, and values students should develop during their Catholic education. This graduate profile goes beyond academic achievement, focusing on the development of virtue, character, and leadership, ensuring that our students are not only academically successful but also morally responsible. This profile ensures that our students are prepared for success in their careers and for living out their faith as active, ethical, and compassionate members of society.

The strategic initiatives outlined in the Illuminating Our Path plan also reflect the philosophy of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education which emphasizes the importance of integrating Catholic principles deeply into every aspect of school life. Both works agree that the educational experience must be intellectually rigorous and spiritually formative, helping students grow into individuals who are not just competent in their chosen fields but who also live out their faith in every aspect of their lives.

By focusing on the development of standards that intentionally integrate Catholicism into all subject areas, teacher professional development, and expanding co-curricular we are preparing our students for both academic success and a life of faith and service. These efforts ensure that students who graduate from Catholic schools in our diocese are equipped with the intellectual, moral, and spiritual tools they need to succeed in the modern world, while remaining grounded in their Catholic faith.

The Illuminating Our Path strategic growth plan directly supports this vision by ensuring that Catholic education in our diocese remains a place where students thrive, both academically and spiritually. By providing a comprehensive PreK-12 education that integrates academic rigor with spiritual formation, and by developing well-rounded individuals who are prepared to be leaders in faith and service, we are building a robust Catholic educational system that aligns with the principles outlined by Archbishop Miller and the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education. Through this holistic approach, we are ensuring that Catholic education remains a powerful force for shaping the next generation of faithful leaders.

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