Catholic school teachers carry out the important and privileged task of the Church and society of preparing students to live their personal lives according to the Gospel values as children of God.

In the Gospels many times Jesus is given the title of “Teacher”. Jesus called Himself Teacher. Jesus is frequently referred to as the model teacher. When He was dealing with people, He showed virtues essential to teachers, like love, patience, kindness, and gentleness. He was gentler with ordinary people and more demanding with the educated. When dealing with the apostles, He was doing what we would today call teacher training. His parables are frequently referred to as model stories which could be emulated by teachers today, the parable of the Good Shepherd being an especially fine example. 

Our understanding of “teacher” in the present context is not simply being recognized as a professional person whose contribution is limited to the systematic transmission of knowledge in a school. “Teacher” is to be understood as an “educator” one who helps to form human persons. Teaching is a noble vocation different from all others. Teaching differs from indoctrinating, conditioning, preaching, training, instructing or demonstrating. The characteristics that differentiate and define teaching do not necessarily imply the criteria for good teaching, or successful teaching, or effective teaching. Good teaching is hard to discern. Successful teaching is simply teaching which brings about the desired learning. The intention of teaching is to bring about learning. 

The Catholic school teacher is one who develops in students a proper sense of God, direction, responsibility and mission. The connotation of “teacher” in a Catholic sense is of one who has authority over others for the purpose of improving them in knowledge, skills, habits, attitudes and ideals. Authority for Catholic teachers is not domineering control. Authority is rather the dynamic influence and guidance of the mature person over the less mature. Speaking to teachers, St. Pope John Paul II said “Through you, as through a clear window on a sunny day, students must come to see and know the richness and the joy of a life lived in accordance with Jesus’ teaching…. To teach means not only to impart what we know, but also to reveal who we are by living what we believe”. 

Regardless of whether or not education is a profession, teaching is, for Catholic teachers, a noble vocation in the Church. For teachers, the profession is the vocation. This vocation calls for detachment, commitment and generosity. It provides for an enthusiastic fullness of life. The realization of teaching as a vocation applies to Catholics teaching in Catholic schools in which the Church is present. In these circumstances, Catholic teachers should be influenced by a Christian faith vision. This will be evident to all only if the Catholic teacher brings to the profession commitment, concern for truth, justice and freedom, breadth of vision, a spirit of service, personal commitment to the students and fraternal solidarity with all. 

One of the qualities that raises teaching from a mere profession to a vocation is commitment. The commitment in Latin (‘Committo’) means “to send with” which is similar to commission. This kind of commitment involves loyalty, identification, and participation. Commitment is passionate, with plenty of heart as well as head, and is driven by the motivation to achieve a goal. 

The Catholic school teacher is one who is responsible for the religious formation of students. The Catholic school teacher is a person of faith, who cultivates a deep personal prayer life and sacramental relationship with God. The Catholic school teacher has compassion, forgiveness, understanding and patience. The Catholic school teacher is a person who corrects but does not judge, who interprets the world in the light of Christ’s revelation sharing the purpose of life with Christian optimism and who introduces young people to Jesus. The Catholic school teacher should be informative, provocative, evocative, studious, practical, challenging and interesting. 

The Catholic school teachers should be animators not dictators. They should seek to build a bridge of trust. They should be persons of keen observation. They should have the ability to listen, to provide stimuli, to be available and to appreciate effort. They should be caring. They should know the children, their strengths and weaknesses. They should encourage children. They should have a genuine concern for children, good sense, imagination, adaptability, sensitivity and enthusiasm. 

Today, as we acknowledge with pride the splendid achievements of our students we thank also, with deep heartfelt gratitude, the commitment, skills and dedication of our teachers.

 

Spiritual Care

The College has implemented numerous programs to build up the spiritual life of the students. Holy Mass is celebrated daily at the Parish Church at 7 a.m. before the commencement of the school. Holy Mass is celebrated for the Primary School and the Upper School on first Friday of the month and the days of obligation. The Holy Rosary is recited daily as a community in the morning before the commencement of classes. Midday Prayers and Afternoon Prayers are recited to strengthen the spirituality of students. Students are provided with an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation twice a year. Special programs such as retreats and Stations of the Cross are organized to enrich the spiritual wellbeing of both students and teachers during the Season of Lent. The Lourdes feast which is organized by the deanery is another great event our College community participates in. Prefects and the College Western Band participate in the Lourdes procession and a special Holy Mass is celebrated on the day of the feast which is organized by the College. The College organizes many religious activities to sustain and strengthen the faith of the students and their participation in these activities is admirable.

 

Educational Development

Academic life is the “springboard” of the life of a student. The entire future of a student lies in his education. For this reason, the primary concern of our College is to provide the strongest foundation possible to facilitate the highest possible achievement for each student. With pride we can say that we have produced some excellent students with outstanding results.

‘God bless!’

Rev. Fr. Prasad Niranjan Fernando,
Rector / Principal.