Obama’s Catholic Schools Gripe Sparks Request of Mercedarian Sisters

CLEVELAND - July 12, 2013 - PRLog -- The alarming remarks of President Obama in Ireland recently about Catholic schools have prompted a religious congregation of teaching Sisters to speak out in defense of Catholic education.

Obama claimed in a June 17 speech in Belfast that having both Catholic schools and state-run schools “encourages division” in society, prompting many Catholics to wonder if the U.S. administration plans to cripple or end Catholic education in America.

“We really need to pray for President Obama so He can preserve our basic rights and our freedom of religion,” stated Sr. Jeanette Marie Estrada, vocation director of the Cleveland, OH Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. The comment was made on the Sisters’ Facebook page.

The following interview of Sr. Jeanette Marie underscores the need for an authentic education based on true human values and Christian beliefs, as well as training in practical skills.

Q. What trends are you seeing in children today in the schools where you teach?

Sr. Jeanette: The education of children and youth is of transcendental importance.  It has always been a challenge, but it seems to be a real challenge nowadays. Three main factors come to my mind:

1.      Higher rates of divorce and single parenthood, giving many times as a result parents working double shifts. Therefore, not spending time with their children.

2.      The traditional family (formed by mom, dad and children) is not the common feature in our society any more.

3.      A secularized society in which values are not a priority or perceived as "old fashioned."

Q. How has family life changed over the years?

Sr. Jeanette: Many children are pressured to leave their childhood behind at a very early age.  They do not play with cars, dolls, and dinosaurs.  They play games on tablets, cell phones, x-boxes, etc., where many times they are left unsupervised or under the supervision of older siblings who initiate them in violent or impure video games.  

Unfortunately, the Church does not play an important role in their lives; therefore, in many instances, the media teaches the moral standards and behavioral patterns.

Q. What, then, is the role of Catholic Education in society?

Sr. Jeanette: In the past, parents sent their children to Catholic Schools to support the Catholic education imparted at home.  Today, many parents send their children to a Catholic School because it is seen as a haven from violence in public schools and because the quality of education they offer.  Catholicity in itself is not a main decision-making factor.

It is exactly because of this that Catholic Education is now more necessary than ever.  The Catholic School becomes a center for the new evangelization.  We must educate children to have a critical mind capable of discerning what is God’s, what is good, immovable, and true.

Being a teacher in Catholic school should not be seen as a job but mainly as a "ministry" to save souls and lead them to God.

Q. How does the New Evangelization affect your apostolate in schools?

Sr. Jeanette: Our Institute is not a missionary institute per se; our apostolate develops mainly in schools.  However, we have ample opportunities to do mission work in our schools. We encounter students who lack food, supplies, clothes, hygiene, knowledge and, most importantly, love and moral values.

The Mercedarian School must be the epicenter of truth.  It is a school where practicing Catholics and not so practicing Catholic children meet; where the new evangelization takes flesh; where children learn that God is at the center of all scientific knowledge, and that there is no rupture between faith and science. A Mercedarian student is a girl/boy who goes out into the world with a heart full of mercy, an intellect full of truth and stands for what he/she believes.  It is a Christian who evangelizes with Mary in the light of the Eucharist.

The Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament were founded in Mexico in 1910 and teach in four states in the United States, and run a retreat center. If you agree with their mission, why not like them on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mercedarians?fref=ts)? Or visit them at MercedarianSisters.org (http://www.mercedariansisters.org/).