FILL MY CUP, LORD By Sylvia Chua

“The mission of schools and teachers is to develop an understanding of all that is true, good and beautiful.” Pope Francis (October 2017)

Pope Francis views education in three aspects. In his address at a Conference of Catholic educators in 2022, he described education as an act of love which removes people from self- centredness to help others discarded by the globalizing society. He states that change is impossible without motivation and a process of education.

Education is also an act of hope which helps to break the vicious circle of skepticism, disbelief and the attitudes contrary to the dignity of the human being.

Lastly, he states that education is a factor which humanises the world. Education helps people to transcend individualism, appreciate differences and discover fraternity. It aims to build community and be responsible for the environment.

As the world and technology develops, Pope Francis emphasises that education plays an important role to nurture the desire for truth, goodness and beauty that lies in the heart of each individual so that all may learn to love life and be open to the fullness of life.

As educators, we are called to not only develop the maturity of the human person but also to ensure that those who have been baptised become more appreciative of the gift of faith received at baptism.

I am sure the messages of the Pope resonate with us as educators in Catholic schools. We welcome in our schools, children of different faiths and beliefs and value them as they are. We strive to teach all students to go beyond themselves and be contributors to our world. We challenge our students to appreciate nature and grow to be hopeful people in spite of the difficulties and issues posed by the modern world. I feel educators are keenly aware of our vocation to help our students to know themselves and recognise that they are capable of loving and being loved.

We model this in the way we overcome the daily challenges and clashes in our classrooms. We are resilient and walk into class with renewed enthusiasm and motivation each morning, no matter how difficult the class might have been the day before. We dig deep into our hearts and minds to get involved with our students, build rapport and mend fences with our students. We find new ways to connect with students whose minds race ahead of ours. We remind ourselves that each child is built in the image of God and we seek to find the face of Jesus in each child. We have faith and work with trust in the plan of God for each child.

That is very hard work – work that takes a huge toll on our hearts too. Perhaps for some, this also drives them to despair. Educators must take the time to also get to know ourselves as we progress through different seasons in life. We too need to renew our belief that we are capable to continue loving and that we are loved ourselves as children of God. As much as we work to bring hope in the lives of our students, we need to take time off to heal our own wounds and refresh the hope in our own lives. Pope Francis reminded all those engaged in Catholic education to grow in wisdom and to be aware that the work we do cannot be done without God’s help, without the support of all and with the strength of the Spirit of the Risen Lord. (Vatican News, 1 Dec 2022)

Our archdiocese celebrated Catholic Education Sunday on 25 August, the feast day of St. Joseph Calasanz, Spanish priest, educator and founder of Pious Schools which provided free education to poor boys during the 17th century.

On occasion of this Catholic Education Sunday, let us take the time to focus on educators, from heads of schools to the teachers and administrators of schools. In his book entitled Gently and Firmly, Fr C.P. Varkey, SJ recommended that teachers also need to connect with other responsible adults to build a fraternity that cares. We too need to find positive ways to ensure our basic needs of acceptance and achievement are met. As individuals, let us practise some self-care and fill our own cup first and allow our students to benefit from the overflow.

Sources: How Pope Francis Sees Education, Lacivilta Cattolica, www.laciviltacattolica.com, 2023

Catholic education is vital in an age awash in information, Catholic News Agency, www.catholicnewsagency.com, 2022

Gently and Firmly, CP Varkey, Better Yourself Books, India, 1995