“John Paul II High School is a college preparatory school of the Diocese of Raleigh. The school will serve students in grade 9 for the 2010-2011 school year and will add additional grades, 10,11, and 12 in each consecutive year, eventually offering a four year college preparatory program. The school does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, or nationality in the administration of its academic and admissions policies, scholarship and financial aid programs, and other school-administered services.”

 

Catholic Identity

Introduction

The importance of establishing John Paul II Catholic High School lies in its mission to educate the whole child through the exposure to a variety of educational experiences bound in the catechesis of the Catholic Church. The catechesis is “…the totality of the Church’s effort to make disciples, to help people believe that Jesus is the Son of God so that believing they might have life in his name, and to educate and instruct them in this life, thus building up the body of Christ.” (II Handing on the Faith, Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1997 United State Catholic Conference, Inc. – Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

We have identified five characteristics that together indicate something distinctive about our Catholic identity at John Paul II High School. We believe that these hallmarks flow from our mission statement. Together, they form a unique constellation of beliefs and practices that set us apart from other schools. These beliefs and practices demonstrate the profound difference of Catholic education at John Paul II High School.

We are Catholic

We are a Roman Catholic High School in the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, with The Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge as our Bishop. We are a community of diversity and encourage inclusion as our faith teaches.

At John Paul II H.S. we believe as John Paul II did and so eloquently related in his homily, “Man, Unique in the Universe” – The Spirit of God who, we are told in the Book of Genesis, breathed open the waters at the very beginning of creation (cf, 1:2), is the same Spirit of life who was breathed into man, so that “man became a living being” (ibid., 2:7). This is what makes us different from every other creature. In our bodies we are a mere speck in the vast created universe, but by virtue of our souls we transcend the whole material world. I invite you to reflect on what makes each one of you truly marvelous and unique. Only a human being like you can think and speak and share your thoughts in different languages with other human beings all over the world, and through that language express the beauty of art and poetry and music and literature and the theater, and so many other uniquely human accomplishments. (Homily at Central Park, October 1995)

We are a compassionate community

As such, we must respond to the needs of others through service to school, Church, and community. The Catholic school’s proper function is to create for the school community a special atmosphere animated by the Gospel spirit of freedom and charity (Declaration on Christian Education, 1965, #B). Our students must learn how to demonstrate social responsibility and awareness of global interdependence and understand and appreciate various cultures by growing in the understanding of social problems concerning race, poverty, and religion. Our students must also recognize responsibility to be good stewards of the environment. We are nourished in our relationships with one another at John Paul II High School, and ultimately, through our participation in the Eucharist. There, in a privileged way, ‘Christ gives His people different gifts not only for themselves but service to others. Each must serve the other for the good of all” (To Teach as Jesus Did, 1972, #28). Individual successes depend upon the successes of every other member of our community. Through our commitment to one another, we grow increasingly into the Body of Christ. ‘Christian fellowship grows in personal relationships of friendship, trust and love infused with a vision of men and women as children of God’ (To Teach as Jesus Did, 1972, #24)

 

We treat every student as uniquely individual

Catholic education presumes that every student is full of worth by having been made in God’s image. At John Paul II High School, we strive to reveal and develop the unique gifts to every individual. “It must never be forgotten that the purpose of instruction at school is education, that is, the development of the (the person) from being” (The Catholic School, 1977, #29). True to the mission, Catholic Schools provide environments in which students: Grow in personal faith response through prayer and worship; learn Catholic tradition and dignity; acquire the knowledge and skills that will equip students to be active, participating citizen in a technological age.

An education at John Paul II High School is formative because it fosters the development of the whole student in all the dimensions of students’ lives – artistic, athletic, intellectual, spiritual, moral, emotional, civic, and social. ‘For these reasons, we believe that although ‘School’ is often identified with ‘teaching’; actually, the classes and lessons are only a small part of school life. Along with the lessons that a teacher gives, there is the active participation of the students individually or as a group: study, research, exercises, Para-curricular activities, examinations, relationships with teachers and with one another, group activities, class meetings, school assemblies (The Religious Dimension of Education in a catholic School, 1988, #47).

We recognize the sanctity of family

“The Christian family is the first place of education in prayer. Based on the sacrament of marriage, the family is the ‘domestic Church’ where God’s children learn to pray ‘as the Church’ and to persevere in prayer. For young children in particular, daily family prayer is the first witness of the Church’s living memory as awakened patiently by the Holy Spirit” (Servants of Prayer – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1997 United State Catholic Conference, Inc – Libreria Editrice Vaticana). Therefore we work as partners with families in the crucial work of formation.

 

We promote justice

Since it is motivated by the Christian ideal, the Catholic school is particularly sensitive to the call from every part of the world for a more just society, and it tries to make its own contribution towards it (The Catholic School, 1977, #58). At John Paul II, outreach to our faith and social community is a sign of our identity. The John Paul High School community strives to develop socially minded students that will be confronted with global and local issues. No human sorrow is a matter of indifference to our community. We work for the improvement of life. In this way, we strive to “form human beings who will make human society more peaceful, fraternal, and communitarian” ( Lay Catholics in Schools: Witnesses to Faith, 1982, #19)

 

Conclusion

Accordingly, we understand and embrace our Catholic identity at John Paul II High School. We believe that these hallmarks set us apart from other schools and demonstrate the profound difference a Catholic education makes in our society. It is our hope that this reflection will promote more meaningful involvement in the life and mission of our school. We invite you to participate and celebrate our venture into furthering our values and ideals through a Catholic Education.