Listen Now

In today's episode I share another great quote from Dr. Ryan Topping and then it's time to talk about how e see the destiny of our students. Where we think our students are heading can have a big impact in how we teach and what we teach. Sadly, more than a few Catholic schools have an essentially humanist focus upon the outcomes of their students lives. If we make this life our only focus then we end up trying to build secular utopias instead of seeking to usher in the kingdom of God in whatever manner God calls us to do. We also discuss the importance of hope in this Advent season.

What is it exactly that God wants you to do in a Catholic school? In today's episode I discuss the simple thing that God wants every single Catholic teacher to do on a daily basis. The good news is that this simply action will also have a big impact upon every student. I also talk about the relationship between the Duke of Wellington, the Battle of Waterloo and its implications for Catholic schools.

Let's be honest. Some parts of Revelation are rather....descriptive! Lakes of fire, dragons and the occasional reference to eternal torment. In today's episode we take today's Mass reading and blow up the heresy of 'universal salvation' and remind ourselves of the crucial importance of our daily choices and decisions. What we actually 'DO' is much more important than what we 'intend'. I also discuss the crucial importance of trying to build character and virtue in our students.

In today's episode we explore a great quote from the great theologian and priest Romano Guardini and also talk about the new book from Ross Douthat. According to Douthat, advanced societies are running out of energy and inspiration. Catholicism has been witness to this before and has often been the catalyst for radical and renewal and change. Let's discuss how the Catholic teacher can play their part in breathing life into a dying culture.

In this episode we explore the way that significant aspects of modern social protest mirror the deep religious impulse central to all human lives. The difference for a Catholic teacher is that the religious impulse is ordered toward the Truth and not to any specific cultural ideology or movement. What is the modern news cycle telling us about the deepest needs of our students, our families and ourselves?

In today's episode we explore a great insight from Monsignor A.N. Gilbey and also how we can apply the concept of a growth mindset to ourselves as well as to our children. No matter how long we have been teaching there is always more that God has in store for us. Just as the apostles were an unfinished collection of personalities and problems when they first met Jesus, we also, can allow Him to form and shape us along the journey of our vocational life.

In today's episode I share some powerful insights from Jean Baptiste Chautard who helps us to make the crucial connection between liturgy and the overall health and vitality of every Catholic school. If the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith then its role in the life of a Catholic school has never been more important. Listen in as I share some enthusiasm and motivation for renewing Catholic schools.

Do you ever feel some concern about the way that technology addiction has shaped the current generation of our students? In today's episode we explore the insights of Neil Postman who realised almost 50 years ago that technology and media proposed significant challenges for all aspects of culture.

In today's episode it's time to go a little deeper into the call to sainthood that's placed upon the life of every Catholic teacher. It's always easy to assume that this is only for the superhuman holy types but the truth is that every single Catholic teacher has the invitation to grow in holiness and become all that God created them to be. We talk about art, music, and the daily challenges of your classroom and how those same challenges are going to make you become your truest self. You can find the article I based this episode on here

In many schools students are increasingly being sold a utopian vision of human and cultural perfection that ignores the truth of the Gospel and the destiny of every human life. In this episode we explore the concept of Capax Dei and why we need to keep some perspective with regard to social, political and environmental movements that seek to gain young people's unquestioning allegiance.

In today's episode it's time to talk about why every Catholic teacher needs to take the existence of their guardian angel seriously. A new book called Angels and Demons: A Catholic Perspective helps us to realise how God provides help when we need it in every difficult circumstance. I also explore another great quote from Ryan Topping about the very essence of all Catholic education.

In today's podcast I share an insight from St. Paul when he reminds the Galatians about how God chose to reveal Jesus 'in' him. That's an interesting idea and it's one that I think applies to every Catholic teacher. The deeper we pursue the journey of discipleship the more Jesus is revealed 'in' us as we work with young people. What an awesome opportunity and responsibility you hold as a Catholic teacher.

The Bishop of Orleans was a very busy man. In a scribbled note from a retreat he took in the 19th century we discover that he faced the exact same challenges that most Catholic teachers face on a daily basis. In today's episode I want to talk with you about how he learned to manage the intensity and demands of his vocational life. Burnout and exhaustion do not have to be the path that Catholic education lays out for us. We need to take the risk that if we press into prayer that Jesus will do more than we can ask, hope or imagine.

Lone ranger Christians and Lone Ranger Catholic teachers often find themselves exhausted by the demands of the Catholic education vocation. The truth is that we were never meant to do live our vocations on our own. In this episode I explore another great insight from Ryan Topping that reminds us of the power and necessity of doing the journey of faith and teaching together.

In today's episode I explore a great insight from St. Thomas More and also some reinforcement from Abraham Lincoln. The calling of every Catholic teacher is not to simply 'do a job' but to partner with grace to become the very best teacher that God always wanted them to become. We explore the power and beauty of the vocation that every Catholic teacher is called to realise. No one is exempt from God's great plan for their life.

Ever since Pontius Pilate wanted an accurate definition the concept of truth has been a hotly contested topic. How can the modern Catholic teacher help young people navigate the competing truth claims of a complex technological and secular world? In today's episode I offer some deep reflections on how every Catholic teacher can teach the truth but also model it.

In today's episode I share with you a five step process from St. John Chrysostom that can help any Catholic school staff begin to become a truly happy place. The pressure of modern Catholic schools, the problems of ambition and politics can derail a sense of closeness and fraternity. The good news is that there are simple things every Catholic school can do to create a better sense of charity and common purpose. In this episode we also start our journey of exploration of Dr. Ryan Topping's important book on Catholic education. 

No one starts their journey as a Catholic teacher in a fog of exhaustion and burnout. In today's episode I want to share some deep spiritual wisdom from a great Catholic saint about how to manage the experience of burnout, depression and desolation. I also look at some very practical physical strategies that can make a big difference in your teaching day. Finally, we explore how the Feast of the Transfiguration can show us all how to become the best educator and person we can become.

Today is the feast of St. John Vianney, a great Catholic saint who reminds us that all we have to do to pursue holiness is just allow God to make us holy in the place he has placed us. I also discuss the way that Jesus speaks into the fear that we can all so easily experience. Finally, I share a great quote from philosopher Ryan Topping who reminds us that in Catholic schools it's not just a question of good intentions. 

In today's episode we discover how preparing the way for Jesus can mean speaking the truth when it is not always easy to do so. John the Baptist shows us that courage is a crucial aspect of following Jesus. We may not lose our heads but sharing the truth in a Catholic school can sometimes be a challenging assignment in these unusual times. Listen in and be encouraged in your vocation and in your powerful role in standing up for truth.