Faith-based learning fosters spiritual growth in students

The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) highlights the importance of blending creativity and collaboration with faith values in Catholic education. Six strategies proposed by the NCEA include fostering a growth mindset rooted in faith; embracing project-based learning through a Catholic lens; encouraging interdisciplinary learning integrating faith and reason; creating opportunities for reflection, prayer, and discussion; incorporating technology with ethical considerations; and educator-modeling of creativity, collaboration, and faith. By adopting these approaches, Catholic education equips students to empathetically solve problems while upholding their faith, promising a brighter future.

The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Newark have consistently focused on fostering students’ creativity and critical thinking, and providing them with opportunities for collaboration, said Barbara Dolan, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Newark.

“This is done in the context of our Catholic faith and values, encouraging students to reflect on how they can make a positive difference in the world,” Dolan said. “Many of our schools have annual STEM Fairs to highlight student projects that seek to address real-world problems. These projects are interdisciplinary and the result of collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.”

Catholic educators from various schools across the Archdiocese of Newark recently shared their experiences and strategies for fostering faith-centered learning in their classrooms. In a series of interviews, these teachers provided valuable insights into the challenges they face and the innovative approaches they use to overcome them.

Cultivating personal connections encourages spiritual growth.

Deirdre O’Connor, a 3rd-grade teacher at Our Lady of Częstochowa School in Jersey City, acknowledged the challenge of motivating students to reflect on their faith. She found a solution by building personal relationships with her students from day one. She emphasized the importance of finding ways for each student to explore their own unique gifts in the classroom.

“Fostering personal relationships from the start of the year lays the foundation for a deeper connection to spirituality,” O’Connor said. “Our daily meetings and group prayers create a space for students to grow spiritually together.”

Donna Ryan, campus minister, and religion teacher at Saint Dominic Academy in Jersey City, discussed her approach to nurturing perseverance and resilience with her high school students. By incorporating meditation and contemplation rooted in their Catholic faith, Ryan provides her students with tools to overcome challenges. They are encouraged to pray The Daily Examen and use the Lectio Divina prayer technique to reflect on daily challenges and triumphs, and to connect their personal experiences to scripture.

“Through meditation and contemplation, students gain insight into their personal growth journey,” Ryan said. “This connection to their faith helps them build resilience and embrace challenges with confidence.”

Flexible curricula allow teachers and students to unleash creativity.

Allyson Twilley, a 2nd-grade teacher at Holy Trinity School in Westfield, emphasized the flexibility that Catholic school curricula offer. This flexibility allows her to tailor lessons to individual student needs, fostering creativity and collaboration.

Twilley prepares her students for First Communion each year by having them reenact the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, assigning each student a role to fully engage with the story. Twilley said that the project helps students connect personally with the Biblical story, which they learn through the reenactment.

“Catholic schools allow us to adjust lessons to each student’s unique needs,” Twilley said. “This flexibility empowers students to learn through creative processes and builds a supportive learning community.”

Overcoming challenges by empowering innovative thinking.

Joanne Cavara, a veteran science and engineering teacher at Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, believes that one of the challenges of fostering creativity and collaboration in education lies in breaking students free from conventional thinking. Cavara’s solution involves inquiry-based lessons that encourage innovation and creativity.

Through the Ecology Club she established at the school, students participate in the National Green Team with the Marist Brothers to accomplish the goals of the Catholic Church’s environmental initiative Laudato Si’. The students were given a $2,000 grant and tasked with developing an action plan to address the environmental crisis in their own community.

“I want my students to realize that they can innovate and think beyond the boundaries,” Cavara said. “This approach encourages them to tackle even the most challenging topics with creativity and determination.”

Service learning and social justice are key components in Catholic education.

Christine Gysin, an 8th-grade teacher at the Academy of Saint Paul in Ramsey, emphasized the importance of service learning in Catholic education. Her students take responsibility for organizing donations to St. Paul Parish Food Pantry. The hands-on experience not only teaches service but also develops a sense of empathy and personal responsibility.

“Engaging students in service opportunities connects them to the broader community,” Gysin said. “They learn valuable life lessons and develop a stronger sense of social justice and empathy.”

Infusing Catholic values across subjects is key.

For Gysin, integrating Catholic teachings into every subject is paramount. She encourages her students to attend in-school chapel sessions and relate their academic struggles to their faith journeys. Gysin also plays Catholic worship music in the classroom, creating a faith-centered environment where students can express themselves.

“My aim is to intertwine every aspect of education with Catholic teachings,” Gysin said. “By doing so, students understand that their faith is a guiding light through every challenge.”

O’Connor said she also aims to integrate religion across subjects, exemplified by a biography project on Catholic saints she conducted with her 3rd-graders during their non-fiction reading and informational essay writing unit last school year. The students researched and wrote essays about Catholic saints, then hosted a gallery walk where they dressed up as their assigned saints and educated parents, teachers, and peers based on their research. She viewed the unit as a chance for students to learn about Christ-like figures while also practicing research and writing skills.

Ryan also relates real-world issues and current events to Biblical teachings, which she says can be helpful in connecting students with their faith. In her ethics class, students examine issues presented by the National Catholic Bioethics Center that influence policymakers and medical professionals regarding euthanasia laws. Applying Catholic values and teachings to these real-world discussions helps foster a faith-based growth mindset among her students, Ryan said.

Through promoting creativity and collaboration guided by Catholic teachings, Catholic educators empower students to be empathetic, inventive problem-solvers rooted in Gospel values. The NCEA calls on Catholic educators to embrace the task of cultivating creative, collaborative learners, and fostering a brighter future for students, communities, and the world.