the catholic community of st. francis of assisi
Improving Society Through Our Faith
Catholic education is focused on our Catholic faith as an essential aspect of our students’ lives. However, Catholic schools aren’t just “regular schools” with religion classes. Instead, its mission is to provide not only excellence in academics but also strong spiritual formation that puts love into action. One of the areas of focus at The Franciscan School (TFS) is Catholic Social Teaching (CST), which underscores the moral basis of our faith and guides students to build a better society for all. “However,” emphasizes Celina Manville, a learning specialist at TFS who helps coordinate the CST program, “this is not a new, modern thing. After the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo XIII recognized the need for Catholic social teaching.”
Pope Leo XIII first articulated the foundations of CST in his 1891 encyclical, Rerum novarum. He recognized the need for Catholic doctrine to address human dignity and the common good. It addresses oppression, the role of the state, subsidiarity, social organization, social justice, and wealth distribution. Dawn Smith, principal at TFS, notes that St. Francis has always embraced this focus; however, it now has an intentional, schoolwide emphasis. The school works closely with Mary Ellen McGuire, Director of Justice and Peace at St. Francis Parish, and Casey Slock, coordinator of Justice and Peace, to connect with the 32 Justice and Peace ministries and their emphasis on CST. “Casey has been incredible with helping us tap into ministries that already exist at St. Francis and in helping us to reach out to others,” says Celina.
Ministry Spotlight: Marriage Preparation
The marriage preparation process at St. Francis, based on the Diocese of Raleigh’s model, includes several steps over the year leading up to the ceremony. An inquiry form on the parish website initiates the process, and a follow-up phone call with the bride and groom documents the couple’s wishes for their union at the parish. An orientation session is scheduled to explain the process and answer any questions. The ‘Fully Engaged” inventory follows. The inventory is not a test but a survey of values to help the couple identify strengths and areas for growth in their relationship. The mentor couple is engaged with the couple at this point, about 6 months before the wedding.
The engaged couple will meet with the mentor couple two to three times to review the inventory and to discuss marriage in general. Of course, it is one couple’s perspective, but the trained mentors are informative on their experience and the entire process. Jim Wahl, the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Francis, says of these sessions, “There’s an emotional investment as well from both couples. You’re meeting with strangers, and they’re discussing your marriage in depth. I’m sure some engaged couples can have a lot of questions about marriage; it can be a spotlight on your marriage and a reflective process for the mentor couples as well.”
