THE TRANSFORMATIVE GIFT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION

By Brian Murphy

“In general, do parents of students get a satisfactory return on the investment in a Catholic education? The answer is a definite ‘YES’ when Catholic schools share a vision and teach values, when the school community is rooted in the Eucharist, when parents and teachers witness to students not only by what they teach in a classroom but by what they live in their daily lives, when Catholic schools are seen and appreciated as part of the total mission of education/formation to all, when parents and countless others are willing to continue to sacrifice in order to offer their children ‘something more’ which is possible in Catholic schools, and most of all when a school dares to be ‘Catholic’.”

Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy
Montana Catholic Register Column
“Is There Any Value In Catholic Education”
February 10, 1985

Simply put, Catholic education transforms lives – shaping the hearts and minds of all its students. It opens doors, knocks down barriers and unleashes our human potential. The lasting touch of this experience forms a deep foundation upon which an individual can build a wonderful life – one rooted in using her/his God-given gifts for the benefit of others as well as themselves.

I make this statement from deep personal experience having had the great benefit of attending Catholic schools for 16 years. This formative period of time left a material and indelible impact on my life. It made me a better and more complete human being – with a keen awareness of how fortunate I am for the many gifts God has bestowed upon me.

Archbishop Murphy, my uncle, was a passionate advocate for the mission and

ministry of Catholic education throughout his life as a priest and bishop. He had the good fortune to attend Catholic schools for 23 years – beginning with grammar school at St. Mel Parish on Chicago’s West Side, continuing onto Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary High School and concluding with earning masters and doctorate degrees from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary.

My uncle was an extremely humble man. Upon entering the seminary in 1951, his sole long-term aspiration was to be a parish pastor in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Never in his wildest dreams did he believe his vocation would take him to such a lofty perch. Looking back on his life, the archbishop attributed much of his success to Catholic education.

The transformative touch of Catholic education It was one of the core reasons he, the son of Irish emigrants who came to America in search of a better way of life, was able to become a priest, bishop and ultimately one of the leaders of the Catholic Church in America. Like so many others, Catholic education transformed his life.

It is a truly unique experience having an uncle who was a Catholic priest. Archbishop

Murphy played a seminal role in my life. He baptized me, celebrated my First Communion and returned home from the Diocese of Great Falls, MT to confirm my entire seventh-grade class at St. John Brebeuf Parish School in Niles, IL. Many years later, I traveled to Rome with him to attend the ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica where Pope John Paul II placed the pallium on his shoulders. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life. I was so proud of him. Afterward, we shared a warm embrace outside of the basilica. Each one of these experiences involved the transformative touch of my uncle’s hands. They left a lasting impact – one that the passage of time will never erase.

The touch of Catholic education has the same transformative and lasting effect. It empowers human beings to go out into the world and do extraordinary things – to serve as Christlike leaders. Educational excellence is only one aspect of the Catholic school experience. All the dedicated lay and religious Catholic education professionals who make this vital ministry a reality constantly work to build and shape the values, beliefs and morals of their students – via words and most importantly through lived example. Pope Francis underscored the significance of this essential element of Catholic education in his 2017 New Year’s Eve homily by stating, “Likewise I feel great esteem for the parents, teachers and all educators who, with this same manner, try to form children and young people in civic awareness, in an ethics of responsibility, educating them to feel part of, to take care of, to take an interest in the reality that surrounds them.”

Many families across the United States make huge personal and financial sacrifices to provide their children the opportunity to attend Catholic schools. An informed and unbiased observer would be justified in asking, “Does Catholic education make a difference? Is it really worth it?” The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Catholic education serves as the most direct and meaningful channel to pass our faith traditions to the next generation. Its dual focus on educational excellence and shaping the hearts and minds of young people is truly unique. The vast majority of Catholic school graduates will go on to form the fabric of their local communities. They will make innumerable The transformative touch of Catholic education contributions in their professional and personal endeavors. Their impact will be profound. All of these future women and men will become as Pope Francis characterized in his 2017 New Year’s Eve homily “artisans for the common good.”

There is no more meaningful gift parents can give a child than a Catholic education.

It is a gift that will keep on giving over and over and over again. The Catholic school experience develops in all its students a finely tuned internal compass – a tool they will use every day throughout their lives to navigate the many highs and some lows that will come their way. When thinking about Catholic education, I often recall a wonderful quote from St. Augustine that beautifully encapsulates its mission and ministry:

“Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.”

Brian J. Murphy is the nephew of the late Archbishop Murphy. He is the youngest son of the archbishop’s older brother Bart. Brian has served on the Board of Trustees of Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy High School (AMHS) since 2015. In addition to this role, he also led a project in partnership with AMHS to develop the Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Virtual Library that consists of an online archive containing more than 1,000 of the archbishop’s written works, an interactive timeline of his life and ministry and an interactive version of his episcopal coat of arms. Mr. Murphy resides in Chicago, IL.