In partnership with Alberta's Bishops, Trustees, Superintendents, Educators, Clergy, Parents, Parishioners, Stakeholders, and Catholic Influencers, Catholic education weaves together faith and academic growth, inspiring students to realize their potential as beings created in God's image.
Public funds sustain Catholic schools across Alberta, enabling over 183,500 students from various backgrounds in 19 Catholic School Districts and 4 Francophone Boards to benefit from a superior education within a nurturing environment.
Our Catholic faith is the foundation of all our endeavors, promoting an atmosphere conducive to academic excellence and spiritual development, and fostering a communal commitment to preserve the mission and values of Catholic education in our society.
'First and foremost every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals His transforming love and truth.'
Pope Benedict XVI, 2008
The gift of Catholic education offers students and their families the chance to encounter God's presence in their lives. This foundational experience at school nurtures an openness to embrace God. This openness allows Students, Staff, and Parents to engage in the Sacraments of initiation and become members of the Catholic Church. Truly, when Catholic Schools facilitate encounters with the divine, miraculous events unfold!
Catholics in Alberta play a pivotal role in governance and our involvement goes beyond symbolic acts.
Our participation is crucial for effective and inclusive decision-making.
Our Catholic schools have a unique mission to deliver education within Alberta's curriculum framework, enriched by faith.
Our Principals act as faith leaders with duties that include:
- Integrating Catholic teachings into the curriculum.
- Ensuring prayer, religious observances, and faith-driven extracurricular activities into the daily life of our Catholic Schools
- Fostering community service and social justice efforts that reflect our Catholic principles
- Nurturing a robust Catholic culture and identity in our Schools, honoring Catholicism's distinct features and exemplifying behaviors that align with our Catholic values
- Delivering a comprehensive understanding of our Catholic Teachings
- Managing all elements of our Catholic identity and ethos, including religious education, faith-based activities, liturgical services, and community projects
To support our Principals - as Catholic stakeholders - we must all contribute and actively engage in Government decision-making and use of public monies, especially to overcome obstacles in public engagement, such as tokenism and the dominance of elites.
The Rights of Catholic Families are intrinsically linked with corresponding obligations and responsibilities
Catholic Families have rights and responsibilities, and their roles are interconnected within the larger context of society and faith.
Rights are inherent to all Catholics and Catholic Families in Canada, as outlined in the nation's Constitution and Human Rights Declarations.
These documents assert the fundamental rights and freedoms that all Canadian Catholics and Catholic Families inherently possess by virtue of their humanity, which are universally protected and enforced across all levels of Canadian government and institutions.
Conversely, obligations are the duties or responsibilities that every Canadian owes to one another and to society at large.
These arise from the recognition of rights and the need to balance individual liberties with the welfare and rights of others.
Obligations may be legal, moral, or social.
For instance, Catholics are obligated to respect the rights and dignity of others, abide by laws, contribute to community welfare, and uphold ethical standards.
Similarly, there is an equal obligation for others to respect Catholic values, traditions, and beliefs, and to adhere to the protection of the Catholic faith as enshrined in the Canadian Constitution, as well as to contribute to the welfare of the Catholic community.
‘The Catholic identity is recognized and protected both by section 93 of our Canadian Constitution – for without recognition of that identity the agreement that created Canada would not have proceeded – but also by the Education Act. Both the constitution and the Education Act make it clear that the Catholic identity of the school must be respected’.
(Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto)
Catholics have denominational rights when it comes to Schools that trumps any Provinical or Territorial Human Rights legislation
Catholics have denominational rights when it comes to Schools that trumps and supercedes any Provincial or Territorial Human Rights legislation.
Leadership: Courage to Lead
GrACE receives an increasing number of requests from Trustees for information that can be used to help attract; elect and situate potential new Trustees to include a Voter's guide that eligible voters can use as part of their candidate research.
Ideally, in partnership with ACSTA and other stakeholder organizations, GrACE is inspired to develop a body of work and a concerted response to Trustee requests to mobilize, not just these eligible voters, but also all of those Catholics in our Church pews who have Children in our Catholic Schools or who have had Children who have graduated.
In addition, that is, to those non-practicing Catholics; non-Catholics who send their Children to Catholic Schools and indeed Others who wish - for whatever reason - that our Catholic Schools remain separate.
The initiative - affirming the values, principles and spiritual foundation that Catholic Schools are built upon to ensure continued success and impact - of course, can be further developed in advance of future Municipal; Territorial and Federal elections as well.
GrACE shares how Catholic education has shaped lives!
GrACE's "Where Are They Now" series highlights the impact of Catholic education on individual life paths and celebrates the profound impact of Catholic education, reminding us that learning extends beyond textbooks to shape hearts, minds, and souls.
This month features Scott Morrison, the Executive Director of CCSSA, as he shares his journey with GrACE, seeking to inspire others and underscore the importance of Catholic education.
'God was so present, so powerful, so loving', recalls Laura.
She eagerly anticipated each Sunday when she could return to the Cathedral to immerse herself in the stunning architecture, the Latin, the singing—and feel the presence of God.
Although she found solace in the Protestant church at one time, she realized that her true affinity lay with Catholicism. Her spiritual journey is marked by both hope and sorrow as she navigates her path back home.
Laura's inner passion fuels a robust relationship with God and a successful career.
She earned a Bachelor of Education in English Literature and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Calgary.
After her graduation, she started teaching academic writing at the University of Calgary. In her last three years, she taught at the Native Centre, where she met many talented writers.
She warmly reflects on the indigenous perspectives she encountered while teaching and learning alongside her students.
Laura is a person of great compassion, dedicating herself to aiding in disaster relief in war-torn countries.
Her travels have taken her to Ethiopia, Ukraine, the Philippines, and India to help those in need. In the early 2000s, she co-founded I-AM ESL, a ministry that employs biblical memorization, music, and singing to assist refugees in learning English, in collaboration with Rocky Mountain Bible College.
Laura currently holds a teaching position at the Alexandra Writers Centre Society and serves as the artistic director of Totus Tuus, a verbatim theatre company with a mission to honor God and introduce positive messages on stage.
In addition to these roles, Laura has authored numerous published books, plays, and poems.
Her writing deeply reflects her connection to the land, a theme she explores extensively through months of research into the ecosystems featured in her work, a testament to her strong identity link to the land.
In this interview with Laura, it became evident how she contributes to reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples in Calgary.
She not only teaches academic and creative writing at the Native Centre but also invited the esteemed photography professor, Lonnie Graham, to capture and interview Indigenous students for the global exhibition, A Conversation with the World.
Graham initiated this project to celebrate the diversity of humanity and challenge stereotypes, yet he also uncovered our shared human traits.
The inclusion of Calgary's Indigenous community in this exhibition, showcased across Europe and North America, inspired Laura to pen the creative non-fiction book and play, both titled Blackbird Calling.
Laura consistently weaves the presence of the Savior into her writing, perpetuating a message of hope and love synonymous with Him.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus , I Place All My Trust in Thee!
Most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore You, I love You, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer You this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Your will. Grant, good Jesus that I may live in You and for You. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen
