I assumed that in parish schools and Catholic high schools that everyone would be strong in their faith. I could not have been more far off. Not to say that there aren’t people who are strong in their faith here, but it is definitely harder to find them than I thought. I’m working on a plan to improve why I don’t enjoy high school as much as I should. I attend a high school where school spirit is very important, but spirit for Jesus and the Church is hard to find. All school Masses are silent, with the exception of the choir and a few students who attempt social suicide by singing. There are so few that can truly admit that they have a personal relationship with Jesus. Here the whole school sits, in the True Presence – body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus – and barely anyone cares. And I feel called by God to change that.
I realize, of course, that this is the limited experience of one student. Or is it?
That is what I would like you to please tell me. For any of you teens out there reading this, I really want to know…
1) Does this young person’s experience of Catholic school ring true to you? Why or why not?
2) This teen feels “called by God to change that.” If you were (or are) in a similar situation, what do you think can be done to change situations like this?
I hope to hear back from enough people that I will be able to give a report back in my next blog. Perhaps if we all put our heads together, we can offer this young person, and anyone else in a similar situation, some practical advice.
Finally, I want you to know that if you write and let me know your thoughts, I promise not to share any of your personal information nor the name of your school when I summarize the responses.
Awaiting your reply,
Paul Masek - paul@reapteam.org [1]