10 Ideas to Bring Catholic Life into Your Teaching

For those of us teaching classes this year, particularly in Catholic contexts, we have the unique privilege of integrating our faith into every aspect of our teaching. Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, offers invaluable guidance on how to infuse Catholic life into our classrooms. Here are ten ideas inspired by this document that can help us create an authentically Catholic educational environment.

Start each class with a short prayer or reflection, inviting students to center their hearts and minds on God’s presence. Encourage them to offer their studies as a form of worship and ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance throughout the day. In my work with the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, I have made our times of prayer more than just a moment in the class time together, but one of the cornerstones of how I’m teaching.

Integrate the Church’s understanding of human nature into your lessons by emphasizing concepts such as human dignity, created in God’s image, and the call to holiness. Help students grasp that education is not only about acquiring knowledge but also about forming themselves fully as persons made for communion with God. As people created in the image of God, each of us is sacred. Model respect for students and ensure the classroom is a place where the image of God in another student is never desecrated by cruelty or dishonor.

Bring sacred scripture alive in your classroom by incorporating relevant passages during discussions or reflections related to your subject matter. By studying scripture together, you provide students with spiritual nourishment while deepening their understanding of course material through a theological lens. There is an increasingly troubling biblical illiteracy. Don’t ever assume students know scripture. Teach it and make it come alive to them. For that matter make sure you are delving meaningfully into scripture in your own life, this way you can share the scriptures from your own heart and from a place of transformation in your own life.

Encourage ethical reflection within your curriculum by discussing moral implications related to the topics studied. This approach allows students to recognize that their learning has real-world consequences and helps them develop critical thinking skills rooted in the rich tradition of Catholic moral teaching.

Create opportunities for open dialogue where students can express diverse perspectives while grounded in respect and charity towards one another—encouraging empathy when discussing controversial subjects so they may grow intellectually without compromising Christian principles. There is a great need in our world for disciples who are able to speak with love as they share the reasons for which they have hope. Dialog not only helps students wrestle with content themselves but also builds critical skills needed in the world we live in.

Invite students into sacramental living experiences by arranging visits to the chapel, encouraging participation in the sacraments, and facilitating encounters with priests or religious speakers who can share their vocation stories or other people who can offer stories of personal conversion or encounter with Christ. These experiences help students deepen their understanding of Catholic life beyond the classroom.

Embrace the rhythm of the liturgical year by incorporating feasts, solemnities, and seasons into your teaching. Connect lessons to relevant liturgical themes, such as focusing on social justice during Advent or exploring creation and stewardship during Ordinary Time.

Promote a culture of service among your students by integrating service-learning projects into your curriculum. Encourage them to apply what they have learned in class to address real-life needs within their community, fostering an understanding that faith is not just theoretical but calls for concrete action.

Teach principles from Catholic Social Teaching when discussing societal issues within your subject area—highlighting concepts like human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity, and preferential option for the poor—to guide students towards a deeper awareness of our responsibility as Christians in shaping a more just society.

Create opportunities for communal prayer experiences such as class Masses or prayer services where students can come together in worship and fellowship. Facilitate small group discussions focused on faith-sharing so that they may support one another’s spiritual growth throughout their educational journey. Helping build relationships of significance in student’s lives can be a powerful gift to your students and the broader community.

By implementing these ideas inspired by Ex Corde Ecclesiae, we can create transformative learning environments rooted in Catholic life and values. Let us remember that we are not only teachers but witnesses to Christ’s love through our words and actions—an honor bestowed upon us as educators in Catholic schools.

May God bless our efforts as we strive to bring His light into every corner of our classrooms!