Rome (Italy). On 9 May 2024, 40 days after Easter, the 23rd World Catholic Education Day is celebrated, established in 2002 by the Congress of the OIEC (Office International de l’Enseignement Catholique) held in Brasilia, to draw attention to the contribution that educational institutions can offer to global development and the promotion of a culture of peace and fraternity.
“Enlightening minds, guiding hearts. Thanks to our teachers, the future is taking root!” is the theme of the Day 2024, in which the OIEC promotes a webinar, with the presence of Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education. Hervé Lecomte, Secretary General of the Organization, will present several themes on which reflection is being made at the level of Catholic education in the world. The session will also be attended by Juan Antonio Ojeda Ortiz, Director of Projects of the OIEC; Beatriz Otero of Mexico; Paxti Velasco (FANO), of Spain; and Raúl Rodriguez, Director Global Catholic School of the SM Foundation.
The OIEC invites us to make this day an opportunity to bring Catholic education in prayer, thanking the educators for their commitment, and to make the important educative task of Catholic institutions in the world better known.
The Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians is an active and dynamic member of the OIEC. In the educational field it is present in formal and non-formal education. In fact, in all the works of the FMA, we try to create an educative environment “as a mediation between values inspired by the Gospel and the socio-cultural context where young people plan life, experience trust, and have a group experience” (Guidelines of the FMA educational mission, 142).
Today, more than ever, we recognize the importance of an integral education that promotes the person in their totality; a journey that leads the person to progressively take responsibility for their own growth as a person of solid roots, capable of right judgment, of free choices, and service to humanity (cf. Constitutions, 69). Teachers and educators play a very important role in the Educating Community, an indispensable condition for the FMA educative mission.
The Educating Communities are called to join the various initiatives at the local, regional, and national levels to celebrate this world anniversary so dear to our Charism. In synergy with other educational institutions, this World Catholic Education Day seeks to give a concrete response to the Global Educational Pact, a path inspired and desired by Pope Francis. The future is in making alliances, especially in the field of education; in giving visibility to education as the way of peace and true progress for all, without exception, for the present and the future, with respect for the common home.
