Holy Cross and Christian Education

Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, had a vision to educate both the minds and hearts of students to grow in Christ’s love and to use their gifts to make the world a better place. Holy Cross and Christian Education outlines the five powerful elements that uniquely define a Holy Cross education.

Fr. Moreau made his vision for a Holy Cross education clear: “We shall always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart. While we prepare useful citizens for society, we shall likewise do our utmost to prepare citizens for heaven.”

From elementary schools in Uganda and secondary schools in Bangladesh to the universities of Notre Dame and Portland in the United States, Fr. Moreau’s vision has inspired the pursuit of academic excellence within a familial atmosphere that bonds students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Drawing from his voluminous writings, Holy Cross and Christian Education highlights the five elements that continue to shape the pedagogy of Holy Cross educational institutions around the globe:

• Mind—seeking understanding through the integration of faith and reason;
• Heart—discerning our personal vocation in service to the Church and world;
• Zeal—fueling the desire to offer our gifts for the good of all people;
• Family—embracing Christian community as the context for lifelong formation; and
• Hope—trusting in the cross and God’s promise of the kingdom.

This concise and accessible introduction articulates a compelling vision of education that encompasses a person’s natural human development and moral formation with the call to Christian discipleship. It also includes a timeline of Fr. Moreau’s life and the history of the Congregation, prayers, and suggestions for additional reading.