Education leaders and teachers from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools reflected on its core mission of “forming lives to enrich the world” at the inaugural MACS Flourishing Learners Conference last week. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
This vision was articulated by Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, who connected the recent canonisations of Sts Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati directly to the work of Catholic education.
“The ordinariness of these two young saints is striking,” Archbishop Comensoli told the conference. “They lived with their families, had groups of friends … were both sports mad.”
St Pier Giorgio’s love of learning and commitment to social justice “was founded in the Catholic schooling he received that nurtured his spiritual life and active faith,” the Archbishop said. “He blended academic achievement, faith and service to transform the community in which he lived.”
St Carlo’s “commitment to holiness in his daily life, his devotion to the Eucharist and living a life of charity, and his courage to witness with integrity to the Gospel were all formed within his schools. His Catholic schooling emphasised the development of the whole
Linking their lives directly to the MACS vision, he said: “Our two new saints are proof that this vision is indeed a path worthy of any young person in our schools to take. Which makes it, for us, a worthy path to lay out for them.”
Catholic education in the archdiocese seeks to foster the formation of the whole person, the Archbishop said. “The dignity and worth of every student is paramount; you aim to motivate and enable students to act, flourish and enrich the world around them.”
The Flourishing Learners Conference enabled teachers and education leaders the opportunity for professional networking, access to subject-matter experts and a chance to discuss the best way to support teachers so they can best support students.
Prof Br David Hall FMS of La Salle Academy at ACU reminded delegates of the essential role of hope in education. Drawing on Romans 5:5, he encouraged them to “awaken hope in our students, because hope does not disappoint”.
The words inspired the educators to remember that teaching is not just about knowledge, but about nurturing the spirit of every learner.
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Melbourne’s Catholic teachers become flourishing learners in stadium classroom (Melbourne Catholic)
