By David Eck

DAYTON DEANERY — A new initiative will help principals and teachers in Catholic schools in the northern part of the archdiocese enhance their ministry as Catholic educators.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Principals and teachers from Catholic schools in the northern portion of the archdiocese pose at the Athenaeum of Ohio during a pilgrimage as part of the St. Remy Initiative.

The initiative, which is designed to broaden participants’ understanding of Catholic education and the response to their calling, is a partnership between the archdiocesan schools office and the University of Dayton. The Keller Foundation provided funding.

"This will help educators to better communicate their rich and deep faith to students and families," said Toni Moore, assistant superintendent for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati/director of professional development for the Dayton Deanery School Collaborative, who is helping to spearhead the effort. "If the teachers are knowledgeable and formed in their own faith, they will become more effective teachers of the faith. If you have well-trained teachers, you will have more committed teachers and you will have a better program for your students.’’

Teams will use the information and ideas generated from the St. Remy Initiative to implement programs in their own schools.

"We’re trying to develop shared leadership," Moore said. "What we hope to do is, they will take back what they learned and apply it within their whole facility.’’

As fewer religious women and men work in Catholic schools, lay teachers and administrators are taking a greater role in teaching the faith. The initiative will strengthen their own commitment and help them understand they are part of something greater than their own school.

"I think it will provide for the participants a little more strength and resourcefulness to face the challenges in providing Catholic education," Moore said.

The initiative will focus on a different theme each school year, beginning with spirituality in the Catholic school, followed by instructional leadership in the Catholic school and managerial leadership.

"The formation is the part that needs addressing," Moore said. "By starting with spirituality, we give emphases to an area where people may lack confidence in skill and knowledge.’’

Principals and teachers from Catholic schools visit St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati as part of the St. Remy Initiative.

"Catholic schools need to be first and foremost assisting families through their students in understanding the Catholic faith," said Susan Ferguson,, director of the Center for Catholic Education at UD. "(Catholic schools) have a faith base for what we do academically and what we do service-wise. We’re educating the leaders of tomorrow."

The first annual pilgrimage as part of the initiative was held last month. The participants spent two days visiting Catholic sites in and around the archdiocese including St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, the Athenaeum of Ohio, and convents, shrines and monasteries. The pilgrimage allowed participants to develop camaraderie and share ideas.

"One of my passions for the pilgrimage as part of the St. Remy Initiative was to recapture the rich tradition and history of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati," said Anne Battes, deputy superintendent for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. "By tracing our roots, we evoke a sense of our own story — our own heritage. I believe that knowing and embracing our faith story helps us to more effectively share it with our students. We hope this will serve as a catalyst to inspire a strong and vibrant spirit for our current and future Church leaders."

Other activities for this first year include instruction in the history and distinct culture of Catholic schools, prayer and spiritual formation activities.

Participants held a kick-off gathering Aug. 28 at UD. While they socialized, munched on finger foods and continued to discuss the initiative, photos from the pilgrimage were shown on a large screen.

Janell Klippel, principal of St. Brigid School in Xenia, said the initiative provides unique opportunities for administrators and teachers who aspire to administrative jobs.

"So seldom does any university offer something for administrators in this area," she said.

The timing of the pilgrimage, it being closer the start of school, was good, she said. And the pilgrimage allowed school administrators and teacher leaders to see their colleagues in a different light.

"I am and will continue to be a different administrator," Klippel said. "I think I’ll be more focused on the spiritual broad picture. Not only in my dealings with the teachers and the parents and students, but with all the support staff the parish has."

A team from St. Albert the Great School in Kettering is involved in the initiative and went on the pilgrimage. They are already starting to implement some things into the school.

"We started sharing ideas about Catholic education," said Frank Sporlich, principal. "We came back with ideas."

The school has adopted the theme "With God all things are possible," Sporlich said. At the school’s opening Mass, the pastor spoke of the theme, and during Mass, the teachers were called and given a scroll with the theme written on it.

Some teachers are also taking the theme a bit further by asking their students what they can become. Some students are writing goal cards, and with God’s help they can attain the goals.

"That’s all because we were at the St. Remy Initiative, and were hearing other teachers," Sporlich said. "Our whole school is catching the focus."