ACROSS Ireland, between January 26 and February 2, primary and secondary schools will be marking Catholic Schools Week 2020 with the theme, 'Catholic Schools: Living in Harmony with God's Creation'.
But how relevant are Catholic schools to students, families and society in contemporary Ireland?
In terms of ethos, the role of a Catholic school is - and has to be - the same as it ever was.
But our collective challenge - in every age - is to provide a Christ-centred education that effectively equips students to serve the common good of our society.
Our starting point, as Catholic educators, might be to listen to Pope Francis's namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron of the environment, who invites us to, "Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words."
In other words, how can we lead by example?
Catholic schools have a responsibility to grow, nurture and empower the 'other'.
As part of the legacy of our founding fathers and mothers, we are called to collaborate and communicate as one voice to champion a holistic education of mind, body and spirit.
We are embassies of encouragement, cathedrals of courage, embracing new possibilities to fulfil potential.
Now, more than ever, the role-modelling that imbues the ethos of a Catholic school needs to be authentic, generous and filled with integrity.
This suggests that our leadership in Catholic schools should resemble what Robert Greenleaf calls 'servant leadership'.
This means that our service is the distinguishing characteristic of leadership.
Our collective challenge in every age is to provide a Christ-centred education that effectively equips students to serve the common good of our society
Greenleaf proposes that not only would this create better, stronger communities but also that each leader can find greater joy when they become servant-leaders first.
So, as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, we are called not only to walk in the footsteps of our founders, together with our students, but we are also called to wear their shoes.
Along with many schools across the country, the Catholic school works for harmony and fullness of the whole person.
So what does living in harmony really mean?
Firstly, we can suggest that it means making a consistent and collaborative effort to avoid the modern culture of individualism, and instead to self-confidently identity ourselves as a Christian community of people.
Harmony suggests unison, reciprocity, where the coming together of the sum of the parts is recognised as stronger and much more powerful than the individual.
Harmony also calls each of us to allow our gifts to shine and, in turn, the individual is celebrated within the group.
We applaud the 'other' and support the work of the group, team, squad, club, panel and crew as well as the individual voice.
Celebrating Catholic Schools Week therefore invites us to live out a heightened commitment to community.
Each day of the week is dedicated to a different moment which in turn becomes the focus of attention for that day.
On Monday we were called to live in harmony with God. Pope Francis invites us to examine our lifestyles. Do we always take responsibility for the energy both positive and negative that we bring to a space?
When it comes to recognising God's presence in our lives and relationships, Patrick Kavanagh echoes Ignatian spirituality when he invites us to discover God "in the bits and pieces of everyday".
Spending designated time in the presence of God will help us to strengthen our personal and spiritual relationship, our 'harmony', with God.
On Tuesday we were called to focus on the 'other'. Allowing our focus to shift away from ourselves and out into the community was the priority.
We considered how we can work together to be altruistic and selfless. This might involve fundraising for a charity, walking a mile for Mozambique, calling a student council meeting and working to support an item on the agenda that requires a concerted effort.
To show love means to action love, right here, right now.
Yesterday was about finding a way to show different age groups your ability to care for them.
Whether we offer to bring a younger sibling for a walk or a visit to grandparents or to a neighbour, living in harmony with each generation means we step out of the ordinary day and often move into the 'extra' ordinary.
Young and old have the capacity to share wonderful wisdom. Pope Francis reminds us to respect the wisdom of the elderly.
So let us listen to the stories from grandparents, read a story to a child, give of yourself and celebrate this harmony.
Today's call is to love our earth. We can show our Christian stewardship of God's earth by setting up a sustainability project, collecting litter and recycling our plastic.
We could also decide to plant flowers for spring in an area that requires attention and care.
Tomorrow's theme invites us to re-present our Catholic school ethos.
Rather than our ethos being a magnificent motto or a static statement displayed on our websites and pamphlets, it ought to be lived and tangible.
By sharing, forging friendships, caring for the poor and celebrating the liturgical year in a meaningful way, we are living our Catholic school ethos.
This year's Catholic Schools Week can mean a week of empowering change in our schools that, through our Christianity, ripples out into our families, communities, the earth and the oceans.
Together we can make relevant and lasting change for the whole of humanity.
- Dr Orla Walsh is deputy principal of Mount Sackville Secondary School in Dublin.
