Catholic schools can be educational communities where learning, faith and life meet in ways that are meaningful and powerful for students. The challenge of opening up these Catholic meaning spaces with authenticity lies at the heart of the identity challenge faced by Catholic schools in our time.

Sometimes the approach taken in explorations of Catholic identity is to define ‘Catholic’ by referring to abstract principles or concepts. This book is grounded in contemporary research but explores it through living examples of school life. Painting a contemporary picture of Catholic identity, each chapter focuses on a particular facet of the Catholic school – pastoral care, curriculum, pedagogy, disability, prayer and ecological sustainability.

If you are a principal, staff member, parent, parish leader or someone in the community who believes in the potential of Catholic education, this book seeks to explore the religious identity question that is so critical in our schools. If you believe Catholic schools can proclaim the Gospel uniquely and powerfully, this book is for you.