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                                  VIS-Press releases   
      
   CATHOLIC SCHOOLS: THE TRANSCENDENT DIMENSION OF STUDY   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 17 SEP 2010 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father travelled twelve   
   kilometres by car from the apostolic nunciature in London, England, to St.   
   Mary's University College at Twickenham. The institution, founded in 1850 to   
   educate the children of poorer Catholic families, was initially run by the   
   Brothers of Christian Schools but passed to the Vincentians in 1899. It   
   currently has 4,000 students. From 1920 to 1989 it was part of the University   
   of London but now issues its own academic qualifications.   
      
   The Pope was greeted by the rector and the chaplain of the university, by   
   Michael Gove, minister for Education, and by Bishop George Stack, auxiliary of   
   Westminster. They accompanied him to the university chapel where 300 religious   
   who work in education were awaiting his arrival. Once there the Pope delivered   
   his address.   
      
   "You form new generations not only in knowledge of the faith, but in every   
   aspect of what it means to live as mature and responsible citizens in today's   
   world", said the Holy Father. "Education is not and must never be considered as   
   purely utilitarian. It is about forming the human person, equipping him or her   
   to live life to the full - in short it is about imparting wisdom. And true   
   wisdom is inseparable from knowledge of the Creator".   
      
   "This transcendent dimension of study and teaching was clearly grasped by the   
   monks who contributed so much to the evangelisation of these islands", he said.   
   "Since the search for God, which lies at the heart of the monastic vocation,   
   requires active engagement with the means by which He makes Himself known - His   
   creation and His revealed word - it was only natural that the monastery should   
   have a library and a school. ... It was the monks' dedication to learning as   
   the path on which to encounter the Incarnate Word of God that was to lay the   
   foundations of our Western culture and civilisation".   
      
   The Holy Father thanked the members of the teaching orders which, he said,   
   "have carried the light of the Gospel to far-off lands as part of the Church's   
   great missionary work. ... Often", he told his audience, "you laid the   
   foundations of educational provision long before the State assumed a   
   responsibility for this vital service to the individual and to society.   
      
   "As the relative roles of Church and State in the field of education continue   
   to evolve", the Pope added, "never forget that religious have a unique   
   contribution to offer to this apostolate, above all through lives consecrated   
   to God and through faithful, loving witness to Christ, the supreme Teacher.   
   Indeed, the presence of religious in Catholic schools is a powerful reminder of   
   the much-discussed Catholic ethos that needs to inform every aspect of school   
   life. This extends far beyond the self-evident requirement that the content of   
   the teaching should always be in conformity with Church doctrine".   
      
   Pope Benedict concluded by expressing his particular appreciation "for those   
   whose task it is to ensure that our schools provide a safe environment for   
   children and young people. Our responsibility towards those entrusted to us for   
   their Christian formation demands nothing less. Indeed, the life of faith can   
   only be effectively nurtured when the prevailing atmosphere is one of   
   respectful and affectionate trust. I pray that this may continue to be a   
   hallmark of the Catholic schools in this country".   
   PV-UNITED KINGDOM/VIS 20100917 (570)   
      
   SUMMARY   
      
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)