Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

Archbishop Chaput on Bishop Conley’s newest pastoral letter

"Your bishop and my friend, Bishop James Conley, has written a wonderful pastoral letter on Catholic education that reminds us that a good education must be intentional and directed toward the wonder of truth, beauty, and goodness. It is a letter that should be read widely by educators, pastors, parents, and all people entrusted with the care of young hearts and minds."

"All the years I have known Bishop Conley, he has been a passionate advocate for quality education that is in the traditional sense: an education that frees the student to receive the truth. This is a simple concept but one that has become increasingly difficult with the cacophony of distractions that demand our attention in this post-modern world."

The letter emphasizes that genuine education touches not just the intellect but also the imagination and heart. "We are created for something more than facts or technical skills. We are created to know love the source of creation, and that is only possible when the person opens up to those things which reveal to the soul the greatness for which each of us was created."

The idea of wonder seems to be lost in much of today's education systems, even within Catholic schools at times. Yet there is no genuine education without this spark of wonder. "Children instinctively know there is something to which they are called that is greater than their experiences. This is why good stories capture their imaginations. They know there is a world outside of their limited knowledge and they want someone to lead them there."

"A good education leads us out of our ignorance and puts us in touch with the spark of the Creator. It enables the soul to sing." Anything less results in failure, reducing potential and impacting both immediate and global communities.

Many societal problems today can be traced back to failures in education. Few people sense the wonder offered by the world; entertainment often eclipses it but leaves an empty space in its wake. Education needs a renewed sense of wonder and sacredness central to human existence.

Bishop Conley's letter identifies five marks of authentically Catholic education from the Holy See’s Congregation for Catholic Education: 1) inspired by a supernatural vision; 2) founded on Christian understanding of man and woman; 3) animated by communion and community; 4) imbued with a Catholic worldview throughout its curriculum; and 5) sustained by gospel witness.

These marks are addressed with simplicity in Bishop Conley's pastoral letter, making them accessible. "Education is not complicated, but it requires deliberate focus that too often does not exist today."

Educators would benefit from reading "The Joy and Wonder of Catholic Education," meditating on it, and discussing it among colleagues. A conversation about education's proper end is necessary now more than ever.

"Bishop Conley does us a great service in reminding us of the purpose of education. We are made for wonder," which breathes life into souls and gives meaning beyond mere functionality. Schools giving students this wonder would allow God to enter hearts anew.