Is Catholic School worth the sacrifice

[Godislove123]

Absoloutly worth it!!! It might not be the same I am unsure but I just finished Catholic middle school and will be going to a public highschool. If I had not gone there I would definatly not be on this web site because before that I knew the basic things about God but when I got there I really got into my religion and have even considered the preisthood as a possibility in life. It is definatly worth it.

 

[CarlaOLS]

…
…don’t count on them to teach him everything he needs to know about the Faith. They may even teach him incorrectly at times. The materials they use are likely to tell you a lot about how good the instruction is going to be. This is just my personal experience, but I don’t think it’s too uncommon that majority of Catholic kids I went to parochial school with in the 60’s and 70’s ended up leaving the Faith. **Get some really good home school religion books, like Seton Home Study and teach your kid yourself, even if you do send him the Catholic school. **
Best of luck and God bless you and your family!

Amen to that!

God bless your son and his vocation.

Our daughter Mary, now Sr. Mary Philomena knew she had a vocation as young as 11 but didn’t tell any of us til she was 17.
Her order is the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor MI
sistersofmary.org/article.php?id=143
(She is in the bottom row of novices 3rd from the left.)

Sisters of Mary are a teaching order begun by Cardinal John O’Connor. They open orthodox Catholic Schools and run them the old-fashioned way with LOW tuition , daily Mass and lots of nuns. God has really blessed them. Just look at the size of the already burgeoning order in just a decade!

sistersofmary.org/index.php

 

[tobinatorstark]

I just wanted to make a poll to see if folks here on the Traditional forum thought Catholic Education was worth the sacrifice if the family is having trouble making ends meet. I am sending my son next year because of his calling to religious vocations! It will be quite a financial struggle for us but upon me visiting and meeting with the school staff I feel it will be quite worth it.

best education in the world. I went to St. Mary’s Catholic School from 1988 to 1994 in Edgerton OH. If he has a calling that is so wonderful.

 

[cknick]

I went to Catholic school. My oldest daughter public, my two younger to Catholic. Better academics in Catholic, however, my public school daughter has been spiritually strong because we worked hard at keeping her faith strong in other church activities. Parenting and faith development is about the sacrifices YOU put into it, and the examples you set.

 

[JesusILove]

There has been a quote attributed to Bishop Sheen, to the effect of: “If you want your children to fight for the Faith than send them to a public school. If you want them to lose their faith send them to a Catholic school.”

That’s not to say there aren’t good Catholic schools out there, but, as others have said, there’s a lot of research and homework that needs to be done before making the decision.

I would say public school is the better option in this case. Agree with Bishop Sheen.

 

[Spiritoftruth]

…in my life’s experience it is a lot like some public schools. A lot of it depends upon the school, the instructor and most of all the committment of students and support of the parents, and hopefully there are both parents… you remember, the biological ones…

 

[CB_Catholic]

I think much depends on the needs of the child also. My son needed a lot of help that was not available in our Catholic school that our public school system was able to provide, and they did an excellent job. As for the religious education at that time (1980’s), from what I’ve observed, unfortunately, it seemed it wasn’t much better than what my children got in CCD, which wasn’t a whole lot.

 

[CatholicChick]

Amen to that!

God bless your son and his vocation.

Our daughter Mary, now Sr. Mary Philomena knew she had a vocation as young as 11 but didn’t tell any of us til she was 17.
Her order is the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor MI
sistersofmary.org/article.php?id=143
(She is in the bottom row of novices 3rd from the left.)

Sisters of Mary are a teaching order begun by Cardinal John O’Connor. They open orthodox Catholic Schools and run them the old-fashioned way with LOW tuition , daily Mass and lots of nuns. God has really blessed them. Just look at the size of the already burgeoning order in just a decade!

sistersofmary.org/index.php

How wonderful Congatulations to you for having raised such a wonderful daughter!
I think its wonderful that her order is a teaching order with the old fashioned values …wow we don’t see that enough thats for sure!
Yes God has blessed them and I will pray for continued blessings for them and for you and your family. That really touches my heart because of my sons calling to the priesthood. God bless!

 

[CarlaOLS]

How wonderful Congatulations to you for having raised such a wonderful daughter!
I think its wonderful that her order is a teaching order with the old fashioned values …wow we don’t see that enough thats for sure!
Yes God has blessed them and I will pray for continued blessings for them and for you and your family. That really touches my heart because of my sons calling to the priesthood. God bless!

Thank you CC.
YES we should all pray for vocations and for the faith of these young men and women entering religious life. Satan will attack them in a hundred ways to be sure - especially priests - we may sometimes feel others need prayers more because of thier lack of faith, poor values, or lifestyles, but we should not forget our priests and religious. Satan saves the big guns for them, and they need our prayers.

In honor of the year of the priests say this prayer and insert the name of the priest you wish to pray for. I try to say it daily for a diff. priest each day.

Prayer for Priests
O Jesus Eternal High Priest, live in (name of priest), act in him, speak in and through him. Think your thoughts in his mind, love through his heart. Give him Your own dispositions and feelings.
Teach, lead and guide Father _________always. Correct enlighten and expand his thoughts and behavior. Possess his soul, Jesus; take over his entire personality and life. Replace him with yourself. Incline him to constant adoration and thanksgiving; pray in and through him. Let him live in you and keep him in this intimate union always.
O Mary, Immaculate Conception, Mother of Jesus and Mother of priests, pray for Father ____________
St. John Vianney pray for Father ___________ and all priests.

 

[Sr_Sally]

…in my life’s experience it is a lot like some public schools. A lot of it depends upon the school, the instructor and most of all the committment of students and support of the parents, and hopefully there are both parents… you remember, the biological ones…

As a parent, this is my experience also. Each school is different (even each public school in a district) and within the school, the teacher’s outlook has a great affect also. My children went to public school after I stopped homeschooling (I stopped because my son needed some additional support I was not able to provide at home). They have both had wonderful teachers who were also Christian (some even Catholic) who were completely supportive of our values. Now I live in a conservative district in a mostly conservative state. I also knew many of the teachers at their school socially. So I could send them to public rather than Catholic for a few reasons:
Because I knew they would not get anything weird taught as part of the curriculum
Because I knew that dh and I would give them a firm Catholic foundation at home
Because I wanted them to have the advantages of scale that Catholic schools cannot always provide (ie, several levels of orchestra, choir, and other extracurriculars)

Our local Catholic schools are also wonderful and I would have had no problems sending them there. But, like you it would have been a financial burden. Since your son has a possible vocation and will se the priests at school Mass, etc. That does tip the balance. My son is an altar boy and often serves the early morning Mass before school just for that opportunity.

 

[Jacafamala]

Amen to that!

God bless your son and his vocation.

Our daughter Mary, now Sr. Mary Philomena knew she had a vocation as young as 11 but didn’t tell any of us til she was 17.
Her order is the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor MI
sistersofmary.org/article.php?id=143
(She is in the bottom row of novices 3rd from the left.)

Sisters of Mary are a teaching order begun by Cardinal John O’Connor. They open orthodox Catholic Schools and run them the old-fashioned way with LOW tuition , daily Mass and lots of nuns. God has really blessed them. Just look at the size of the already burgeoning order in just a decade!

sistersofmary.org/index.php

Wow, they have a lot of vocations. They’re the ones who do the children’s TV religion class on EWTN, aren’t they? They’re good. If we lived nearby, my children would be in their school. Ah, but back and forth to NJ’d be a long commute.

 

[Hesychios]

Another question which might be asked today is:

" Is a Catholic School was worth the sacrifice if the parish is having trouble making ends meet?"

 

[CarlaOLS]

Wow, they have a lot of vocations. They’re the ones who do the children’s TV religion class on EWTN, aren’t they? They’re good. If we lived nearby, my children would be in their school. Ah, but back and forth to NJ’d be a long commute.

They have schools in Michigan, Calfornia, South Carolina, and Arizona, I’m not aware of a NJ school. It may be new. They are working on one in TX and in Florida too I think.
Pray for their work to continue and that people will be generous in supporting them.

 

[CatholicChick]

They have schools in Michigan, Calfornia, South Carolina, and Arizona, I’m not aware of a NJ school. It may be new. They are working on one in TX and in Florida too I think.
Pray for their work to continue and that people will be generous in supporting them.

My prayers are with you for their work to continue!
It is so needed at this time …Good Catholic Schools are such a blessing. Thanks again for all who have helped me. Upon much prayer my son will be going to Catholic School

 

[CatholicChick]

Absoloutly worth it!!! It might not be the same I am unsure but I just finished Catholic middle school and will be going to a public highschool. If I had not gone there I would definatly not be on this web site because before that I knew the basic things about God but when I got there I really got into my religion and have even considered the preisthood as a possibility in life. It is definatly worth it.

Wonderful!
Its great that you have considered the priesthood at your young age. You are in my prayers. Keep praying about your vocation. God bless!

 

[Shin]

There’s a good article that addresses the principles behind whether to send a child to Catholic school or not here.

It is the one entitled: Parentis aut in Loco Parentis: The Natural Law Basis of Home Schooling.

Worth reading.

 

[wcknight]

For me personally it was absolutely worth it. Long term it may mean the difference between Heaven and elsewhere, that is worth every penny. What price can you place on salvation ???

IF you can get the same results from CCD then maybe you could justify not spending the money.

For my kids the jury is still out. IF they return to the Church eventually, then I would say the money is well spent. BUT if they remain lapsed Catholics that no, it was not.

 

[vz71]

I find myself unable to vote here.

I have my kids enrolled in Catholic school, and we are very strapped for cash.
This school is truly a sacrifice.

The school provides religious courses, a higher curriculam then any other school in the area, and teachers that are truly dedicated.
However…the principle of the school has proven to be a real problem.

My family has been subjected to various problems stemming directly from his office up to and including public accusations of theft. While those that directly work with my kids are great, the person that works in the office (away from the kids) is less then trustworthy.

I have often found myself asking the same question…is it really worth it?
I used to talk up the school to friends to get them to enroll their kids, but after they met the principle and told me their experiences, I found myself ashamed to have even mentioned the school to them.

I guess the worst part to it is I have found myself answering ‘no’, but keep the kids there out of sheer stubborness not to let the principle of the school win.

It is a good school being brought down by a bad principle, and I really have no idea what can be done about it.

 

[CatholicChick]

I find myself unable to vote here.

I have my kids enrolled in Catholic school, and we are very strapped for cash.
This school is truly a sacrifice.

The school provides religious courses, a higher curriculam then any other school in the area, and teachers that are truly dedicated.
However…the principle of the school has proven to be a real problem.

My family has been subjected to various problems stemming directly from his office up to and including public accusations of theft. While those that directly work with my kids are great, the person that works in the office (away from the kids) is less then trustworthy.

I have often found myself asking the same question…is it really worth it?
I used to talk up the school to friends to get them to enroll their kids, but after they met the principle and told me their experiences, I found myself ashamed to have even mentioned the school to them.

I guess the worst part to it is I have found myself answering ‘no’, but keep the kids there out of sheer stubborness not to let the principle of the school win.

It is a good school being brought down by a bad principle, and I really have no idea what can be done about it.

Oh my I will pray for this situation. I am sorry to hear about you going through so much at that school and I certainly understand money being tight especially now with the economy like it is. I pray that things get better at your school!

 

[wcknight]

vz71, a letter to the pastor is the most likely recourse. IF several or many parents agree (as in co-sign the complaint) then the problem would be addressed more seriously.

Most Catholic schools are a part of the parish and the pastor has direct authority over the school. IF there is no associated parish, then the school may be run by a community of sisters, usually the Sisters of Charity or the Holy Cross Sisters or the Sacred Heart Sisters. There may be a few others, but somewhere there will be an indication of which organization is in charge. Write to the Mother Superior or governing organization.