A sacramental outlook invites Catholic educators to develop and nurture their own sacramental consciousness. When Catholic educators live their own lives in appreciation of the goodness of creation and as meaningful and worthwhile, their attitude permeates their interaction in the educational milieu and will encourage a similar outlook in others. The ideal of a Catholic school is to educate its members into a world that is sacred and holy because it is God’s creation. Appreciation for God’s gift finds expression in the attitudes and actions of a school community through liturgy and stewardship. School policies and practices include reverence for the sacredness of created things through environmentally respectful actions that regard creation as the Lord’s and for the enhancement of the life of all people.
Strategies to Develop a Sacramental Awareness in Catholic Schools
- create attractive learning environments
- attend to the sacred dimension in all subject areas
- celebrate key moments in the life of the community
- provide opportunities to participate in the sacramental and liturgical life of the church
- include sacramental awareness programs in faith and professional development activities
- keep a clean and healthy environment for learning
- promote environmental awareness programs
- celebrate the gifts of creation, Earth Day
- participate in recycling programs
- encourage responsible stewardship of resources
How does Catholic education express the sacramentality of all creation?