Highlighting the unique ways four Archdiocese of Baltimore schools keep Catholic identity strong

Catholic identity is the foundation of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The Catholic Review highlights the unique ways four local schools keep Catholic identity strong.

Positive peer influence

Even though the Liturgy Club at St. Joseph School in Fullerton is in only its second year and is open only to fourth- through eighth-graders, its members make up more than 20 percent of the school’s 560-student body.

“It’s just a really good way for them to be involved in the Mass,” said Grace Baltimore, fifth-grade teacher and one of the club’s advisers. “It’s very school-and-student based, which is why I think the kids are so much more invested in the Mass now.”

Baltimore said the club takes it “one step further” than simply learning in a classroom about religion.

“If they get started early and they learn about these things earlier, they’re going to be more willing to want to incorporate these things not only in school, but in their day-to-day lives,” Baltimore said.

Community in the club is also strong, and the age range makes it ideal for older students to mentor the younger, Baltimore said.

Father Jesse Bolger, pastor of St. Joseph, shared pizza with the then-60 club members at the conclusion of the 2022-23 year and asked how the club had affected their faith.

“Over 50 students shared, albeit briefly, on how their faith had grown as a result of this club,” Father Bolger said. “I also believe positive peer influence is occurring. … Other students are observing the joy and excitement they see in the faces of our students in these clubs, which is contagious.”

St. Joseph School has also introduced schoolwide eucharistic adoration this year, which Father Bolger called a “sign of hope.”

“In eucharistic adoration, the mystery of grace is made manifest, and our children simply gaze upon our living God,” Father Bolger said. “If we truly believe that we receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, which of course we do, then we should also believe that our time spent in eucharistic adoration can change us as well.”

Father Felix Mmuoh, associate pastor and leader of this new initiative, said that after Mass, eucharistic adoration is the next best way to spend time in prayer.

Father Mmuoh said, “We don’t want our kids thinking only going to Mass you’re fine – of course, going to Mass is very important – but adoration is also.”

Virtues in the spotlight

At St. Mary Catholic School in Hagerstown, a new team has a mission focused on God, family, country and excellence. It’s called “Forming Virtuous Citizens for Heaven and Earth.”

When Father James Boric became administrator of St. Mary in Hagerstown in July, he came up with the idea to assign each grade a virtue on which to focus throughout the year. For grades first through third, these are faith, hope and love, respectively. Fourth through seventh grade are focusing each on one of the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. Eighth grade has two sub-virtues of justice: religion and piety.

“We want our kids to be flourishing, to be excellent – not just in the world’s standards, but in terms of being the human beings God created us to be,” Father Boric said.

A teacher committee on Catholic identity was formed this year and it is looking for ways to tie the virtues into the classrooms.

Father Boric hopes these virtues will affect every aspect of the students’ lives, from the playground, to their relationships with parents and teachers, to attending Sunday Mass.

It’s not going to happen in one year, Father Boric said, but rather it’s a “culture shift.”

Eventually, this catechesis will expand beyond the 189 students in the school and will tie into the parish community.

Father Boric said school leaders are working on a broader community vision, but are just getting started. 

Prioritizing faith

Although 98 percent of the students at Cardinal Shehan School in Baltimore are not Catholic, the Catholic identity of the school remains firm, according to Anika Logan, principal of the largely African-American elementary school.

Cardinal Shehan School takes pride in fostering a strong school community where families yearn for religious teachings that are seamlessly integrated into every lesson, event and activity, she said.

Teachers incorporate faith practices into their yearly goals and across the curriculum, whether in reading, writing or math. Bible quiz competitions and Scripture memorization are regular activities, and there’s a strong focus on encouraging students to become peacemakers.

Students participate in school Masses, prayer services, charitable initiatives and service projects. The school choir and a liturgical dance group enhance liturgies.

“To me, Cardinal Shehan School feels like home,” said Aziah Jeffers, a seventh grader. “I feel like we are a family.”

“Back to our roots”

Matthew Zipp, principal of St. Michael-St. Clement School in Overlea, started the school year by communicating to parents and students about the basics of the Catholic faith, focusing on the Mass.

“(It’s) really just going back to the basics of what it means to be a Catholic,” Zipp said. “That has helped tremendously with our student involvement.”

St. Michael-St. Clement switched this year to a weekly school Mass from biweekly, where half of the school would participate virtually. All students – Catholic or not – are involved in the Mass, Zipp said. Third through eighth grades rotate each week and take on roles such as lectors and bringing up the gifts.

The school’s pastor, Father Hector Mateus-Ariza, suggested having student ushers, an initiative starting up this year. Zipp said the students’ love for Father Mateus-Ariza also helps them get excited
for liturgies.

“The young people … need to be exposed to clergy life, need to be exposed to the priests and the sisters and the brothers and really discern what God is calling them to do,” said Zipp, who encourages students to focus on vocations.

“We have to get back to our roots of being Catholic and not shy away from who we are,” Zipp said.

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