Evangelization and Discipleship
This January the theme for the Catholic Schools Week in the Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend was Learn, Serve, Lead, and Succeed. To achieve success in each of these themes our schools integrate Catholic values and morals into the curriculum, for all of the children within our community regardless to race or religious affiliation.
At the time of the Great Migration of African Americans to the Fort Wayne and South Bend area in the late 1920’s, the African Americans were not always welcomed in all parts of our community. But since the 1950’s, our Diocesan Catholic schools have served as the “principal instrument of evangelization” for African Americans. By intentionally including the diversity of all cultures in our schools, education becomes accessible and affirming to all students. “The Black presence within the American Catholic Church is a precious witness to the universal character of ‘Catholic’. (What We Have Seen & Heard, US Black Bishops)
With the help of the Black and Indian Mission Grant, the diocese has evangelized to the African American community, by providing educational scholarships to five of our local elementary schools and two of our local high schools. We have been able to enrich the educational experience for those African Americans who are actively engaged in the Catholic faith, those who are inactive Catholics, those of other faiths, and those who are the unchurched.
Listed below are just some of the ways that the generous support of the Black and Indian Mission Grant benefits our students:
• LEARN - Academic Excellence: Technology in Our Lady of Hungary School is helping to close the digital divide, the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the internet and those who do not.
• SERVE- Grow in Our Faith: The Junior High students of Holy Family School created a business venture that produced items, to be sold, with the proceeds benefiting their partner school in Uganda – Bethany Miracle Village.
Two 6th grade students at Holy Cross School gave personal witness to Bishop Rhoades about the growth they have experienced as they transitioned from public school to catholic school education.
Students from St. John the Baptist School joined other local schools as our community showed support for the unborn at the 2020 Right to Life Michiana March for Life.
St. Anthony de Padua used grant funds for tuition assistance for seven African American students. Thereby allowing students to be at a school where Catholic Social Teaching principles of options for the poor and vulnerable are put into action.
• LEAD & SUCCEED - Build Community: At Marian High School, their Bernadette Scholars Program, ‘disability means different ability’. The five students in the program thus far have proven to be successful at focusing on life skills and achieving an optimal level of independence.
• School spirit is high at Bishop Luers High School where students and staff show that they are one family. As scripture in Romans 12:5 says, “In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are all one body.”
