5 Ways to Engage School Spiritually — at Back to School and Through the Year

A student prays during a school gathering at Notre Dame Catholic School in Denver. (Photo by Ken Mostek/Mostek Photography)

By Forest Barnette 

We’ve all heard the line, “parents are the primary educators of their children,” and perhaps even vaguely agree with it. Far from a throwaway line from some obscure Church declaration, this assertion is made repeatedly throughout Church teaching and even in canon law itself (Code of Canon Law, c. 1113). It’s not just important — it’s a grave obligation for all Catholic parents.

But in a world that sees both parents working full-time to stay afloat, educators feeling pressured to receive master’s degrees to compete in their fields and more influence than ever from a globalized secular culture, how could that command ever be practical to live out? Who could have the means, expertise or influence to take the reins on such an enormous responsibility?

For now, let’s leave theories and debates aside, reject the temptation of all-or-nothing despair and focus on real-life ways to begin reentering our children's scholastic lives. Here are five ways you can engage Catholic spiritually with classroom learning, one small step at a time.

1.  Attend school Masses with your kids.

Most Catholic schools offer their students weekly — if not daily — Mass and welcome parents to attend. Some institutions permit families to sit together, while others prefer to keep the student body together and seat the parents in the back. Either way, the importance of community participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass can’t be overstated!

There is power in receiving the graces of the Mass as a family: aware of the presence of both Christ and each other, hearing the same readings, reflecting on the same homilies and witnessing the same re-presentation of the Ultimate Sacrifice.

If you can make time for school Masses in your schedule, consider following up with your children about Mass when they come home from school. Age-appropriate questions will encourage better attention during Mass and natural conversation over dinner. Consider asking younger students questions like, “What was one of the stories we heard during the readings today?” Or ask older students, “What part of Father’s homily was particularly challenging or inspiring for you?”

2. Parallel classroom learning at home.

Reach out to your child’s teacher and request a general timeline of topics to be covered throughout the school year. (While this is especially intuitive for catechesis in Catholic schools, any school subject will work, including in public schools!) As your students move through the curriculum, integrate similar elements at home: practice the same prayers, put pictures of relevant saints in prominent places and read related verses from the Bible.

Learning about the planets? Explore the Vatican’s Observatory website.

Diving into the Roman Empire? Read parts of St. Perpetua’s diary and put a picture of St. Felicity on the fridge.

Learning about 3D figures in geometry? Google Giovanni Girolamo Saccheri, the first person to explore such figures from a mathematical perspective … and a Jesuit!

Including classroom subjects at home takes a little forethought and effort, but it will improve student recall, encourage better investment in studying and keep the conversation interesting around the house.

3. Get input from your kids.

What would they like to learn about more at home? What topics light up their imaginations? Model genuine interest in your students' learning, and you may be surprised to find they invest more, too.

Is your third grader making a Jesse tree with her class? See if you can make (or buy) one for home. Encourage her to teach you about the symbols each day, drawing from her own experience at school.

Is your eighth grader finally showing marginal interest in a history chapter on World War II? Offer to watch Bonhoeffer (2024) with him. Explore the ethical and moral questions that arise from a pastor’s plot to assassinate Hitler. (Note: Bonhoeffer is rated PG-13 and parental guidance is advised.)

4. Pray for classmates and teachers out loud, by name.

Give your kids ownership of a personal prayer intention board. Incorporate it into family prayer time and encourage them to update it regularly.

When something wonderful happens at school, name those names on the board in thanksgiving. When something tragic happens, add those names for intercession. When there’s a conflict with a teacher or classmate, definitely add that and practice praying for those who are difficult to love.

5. Find patron saints for activities and ask their intercession during carpool.

Some patronages are widely known: St. Sebastian for athletes, St. Cecilia for musicians, St. Thomas Aquinas for students.

But did you know that St. Luigi Scrosoppi is specifically the patron of soccer players? St. Veronica has a special love for photographers, what with her capturing the face of Christ during his Passion. St. Vitus and St. Pelagia are patrons of dancers, and St. Luke the Evangelist is the patron of painters.

Encourage your children to invoke the help of these holy men and women while you carpool to practices, wait for rehearsals or any time they’re engaging in one of their interests (and beyond). Consider adopting a sort of “Jones’ Family Communion of Saints,” filled with saints with whom your children are building relationships!