MY EDUCATION WEEK: Fr Gerry Kane, Chaplain Harolds Cross National School and St. Claires Primary School.
FRIDAY
I’m chaplain in two schools – both Catholic, but very different. While Catholic means universal, it does not mean uniform. So one school organised confession this year. The other didn’t.
Spent some time today talking with children in Harold’s Cross Primary School about the Christmas story, Mary and Joseph, and how Jesus came to be born. Then a question:”How did God come to be born?” But that’s what we’ve been talking about. Jesus is God. “No he’s not. He’s God’s Son.”
So I started to explain, in shock, that Jesus is God, thinking how does a child grow up in a Christian faith tradition not knowing that Jesus is God? The question stayed with me.
Children can be scary. Their questions are direct. And honest. And without guile. And out of the blue. (“Why did you want to be a priest?” “Are you lonely?”)
SUNDAY
Had a conversation with some products of the Catholic school system – two 20-year-olds (one from a private school, one public, so scratch that debate). Neither attend church much. They hadn’t a clue why some schools were off on Thursday (December 8th, Feast of the Immaculate Conception). Some holy day maybe. Which one? No idea. I said they were like pagans. They laughed delightedly.
Pagan may be an accurate word: pagans were good-living people; solid moral code, charitable, good citizens; with an undefined belief in gods and rituals they could invoke to get in occasional contact with them. Like so many notional Catholics. The commitment to the god is marginal; the understanding of the deity optional.
The question returned: Why did nobody, no chaplain, visit them in school and say that the baby born in the crib was God? Was that when it started? Or did they just drift away with the culture? And what can we do for them now when they come at Christmas and brazenly queue up for “holy bread”, because, being Catholic, they feel they have a right to? Who will say, loud and clear, this is the Body of Christ, and none of us have a “right” to it?
MONDAY
Spent time today with the Holy Communion class – star performers in this year’s Nativity Play at Harold’s Cross. I know the class well, and they know me. The parish programme for First Holy Communion, Do This in Memory, has been a great help in this. Through it, the children are learning their faith. As are their parents. And they feel at home in our Church.
One little boy, from St Clare’s Primary School, met me in the supermarket. “I want to be a donkey in the Activity play – won’t have to learn any lines.”
I marked him down as one of the wise men.
TUESDAY
Heard confessions today. Forgiveness is so important in our tradition, it is a sacrament. It’s a great blessing – being able to say sorry and know God forgives you. It teaches us about honesty and mercy.
But, as I said, being Catholic does not mean being uniform. So, one school argued it was parents’ responsibility to bring their children to Confession. We should encourage them, and leave it to them. True. The other school said that if we don’t do it, they simply won’t be brought. Also true.
Rang a friend about the religious programme – a teacher and lifelong believer with an MEd in religious education. “Are they not taught that Jesus is God?” Yes, the programme has solid doctrinal content (Jesus is true God and true man). But it can be hit and miss, depending on the human element of all participants. (“Why,” she cried, “do we not get more visits from chaplains? And then only in 2nd and 6th class?”) So, having expected confirmation of a defective programme, I came away humbled about my own sins.
Note to self: must do better. Visit more often. I really do believe in this. It is an utter privilege. Now that such criminality by Church personnel has been thankfully exposed, the significance of good contact with children in a school environment is all the more pointed.
WEDNESDAY
Why are the products of our Catholic education system virtual pagans? Could be the programme, or the teachers, the school, the fact that I as Chaplain was not there as often as I could be, maybe the home (many parents don’t do Mass, except on “special occasions”), could be scandals in the church, or secularism. Whatever! The fact is that we have generations which think Jesus is a shockin’ holy man who gives holy bread to his friends if they are nice.
Very like Santa, then.
It’s hard to define the culture of Irish Catholicism now. The separation of faith and culture has led to fragmentation. We get bits and pieces, fragments, unconnected parts of our story from different sources – school, society, family, parish, church institution, media. Like shards of a shattered mirror, they don’t even reflect each other. That’s not just confusing for kids.
We can’t afford uniformity. But we can and should be bold and unapologetic about what we believe.
Throwing blame around is pointless. You might hit the usual targets – Church, chaplains, teachers, parents, schools, scandals, media, secularism. But all you end up with is muck everywhere. And guilt. Nothing will grow from that. Blame and guilt do not make good compost.
THURSDAY
One school came to the parish Church for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The other school had a day off for the feast day. I asked questions; some of them knew the answers.
Teacher was proud of them. I was proud of them.
Children love to say prayers together, or sing hymns they’ve learned.
There are children of different faiths and none in the school. The attitude of younger children derives hugely from parents. If parents are resentful of the Catholic ethos, the children can be sullen and protective. If parents are not threatened by Catholicism, their children will similarly be free and easygoing.
I learned in time to let children teach me. Let them ask questions. And they do. Teachers often join in and help, and link the topic with ongoing learning.
They are the bridge between me and the children, gently helping us understand each other.
Christmas is not just for children, far from it (look at the number of parents at the Nativity play – think of parish carol services, the multiplication of Messiahs , even Christmas Mass).
But in a time of confusion such as ours, children are guardians of the simplicity and the truth at the heart of the story.
That is why the Christmas story is so important. And so hopeful. And visiting schools is such a privilege for me. Because the wonder of this Christmas story is eternally fresh.
I have my take on it this year directly from children: God is being born.
Simple.
True.