A Family’s Journey with The Newman Guide
The Cardinal Newman Society has been hugely influential in my family’s life. As a mother of ten children, my main concern is the salvation of their souls.
I was a public-schooled kid, and my Catholic faith was one of ritual, not true understanding. We never missed Mass as children, Confession and Holy Days being de rigueur. However, my understanding was sorely lacking. I knew something was missing in my life. I did not delve into my Catholic faith until my husband, Andre, and I welcomed our first child, Elizabeth.
By the time she was school-aged, we made the decision to send her to a Catholic grade school. In filling out the forms, the question of “Why do you desire your child to have a Catholic education?” appeared with a couple of empty lines on which to write. Well, the words came forth in unbelievable speed. I quickly responded with over a page of prose of why our daughter should be a recipient of a Catholic education. I spoke of my lack of formation, understanding of the faith, and desiring much more for our child.
I envisioned our daughter being immersed into our Catholic faith, with Catholicism being woven into every subject. I expected the lay teachers to be expert theologians. My husband and I were left somewhat disappointed and disillusioned to learn this was not the case. It was a wake-up call for us as parents to learn that we were the primary educators of our children, and we were responsible to transmit the faith to our growing family. It was not enough to be what I call “ritual” Catholics.
Immersed in Catholicism
We spent two years at one Catholic grade school and two-and-a-half years at another, at which point we had six children. During those early years, we began to learn about our faith, reading Catholic books, listening to Immaculate Heart Radio, and having avid discussions with our pastor. We were busy building our domestic church: praying the family Rosary, praying as a couple, and also introducing other Catholic devotions into our growing family’s life. It became paramount to us parents that we must be able to explain our faith, encourage our young children’s questions, and rely on God’s providence in all areas of our lives. We attended Marian conferences, parish talks, read Church documents, and basically set out to school ourselves on our rich Catholic faith.
As we were immersing ourselves in Catholicism, a suggestion was made to my husband by our neighbor, who happened to be a public middle-school teacher. He suggested we try homeschooling. With much trepidation, prayer, tears, and familial support, we ultimately chose that path to educate our ten children.
We were acutely aware of what was being taught in public schools, as well as colleges and universities. We were concerned for our children’s future higher education choices. I fretted over how we could possibly navigate choosing a college. I tried to calm myself by reminding myself that God had always given us what we needed when we needed it. I questioned older parents and their college-aged offspring about how they approached discerning which colleges and universities were authentically Catholic. I got mixed answers, not all to my satisfaction, until I met a lovely, intelligent, pious woman named Maria Fran.
This dear woman told me about The Cardinal Newman Society and a book they had recently published that listed authentically Catholic colleges and universities. Immediately, I ordered and received a paperback book that listed all the authentically Catholic colleges and universities that existed in the U.S. My prayer had been answered. Soon, we began seeing some of these colleges being profiled in the National Catholic Register. We were thrilled to learn what each school offered and that they were true to Church teaching.
It was vitally important to us that our children learn in an environment that was not opposed to what they had been taught and believed. In August of 2009, our eldest daughter Elizabeth began her classics study at Ave Maria University, in part because of The Cardinal Newman Society. We then encouraged our other children to read through The Newman Guide and choose a college from the list. We have had children attend many authentically Catholic schools: Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, Benedictine College, University of Dallas, University of Mary, and Catholic International University. While there is no longer a paperback book being published, the online information is exceptionally thorough and up to date. I appreciate knowing schools are constantly being monitored and, if they can no longer check off the boxes of being authentically Catholic, they are removed from the list. This resource is incredibly helpful to parents who are committed to helping their children navigate higher education institutions.
Prepared for life
Personally, I could not be happier with the results of our children’s college educations. They have a deep and clear understanding of their Catholic faith and have made it their own. Most of the colleges on the Cardinal Newman list have a required core of classes. In addition, to their respective major courses, our kids were exposed to great literature, philosophy, and theology. This has prepared them for life. It is not enough to be successful at their chosen profession if they do not know how to live a Christian life. It has been a blessing for our children to learn in environments that do not attack Christianity, but bolster the one true Church that Christ established.
I was so pleased to learn the Cardinal Newman list now includes elementary, secondary, and graduate programs. It will make clear for parents exactly which schools are in line with Church teaching and which will not undermine their domestic church. Looking back, it would have been so helpful to know about the Catholicity of local elementary and high schools. My prayer is that all levels of Catholic education will strive to be on this coveted list.
