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Home > Support > Homeschooling > I had no idea there was such a thing as Catholic Homeschooling until I stumbled across it online...
 
 
Question: I decided to homeschool last year. At the time I had no idea there was such a thing as Catholic Homeschooling until I stumbled across it on an internet search. I recently approached my parish to see if I could have my name listed as a contact for homeschooling in our weekly bulletin. I also asked if I could put out free CHC catalogs on the information table. The Father contacted me and said "No". Some of the reasons were that he couldn't "endorse" the program because other parishoners attend public school. Some mothers are single and can't homeschool. I'm very disappointed about this. My own Catholic Church won't endorse Catholic Homeschooling. If I had chosen a Protestant curriculum I could understand this decision by my parish priest. I'm ready to push the topic in the local Catholic newspaper and with the Diocese. I don't think other moms should just accidentally bump into Catholic Homeschooling on the internet. The Church should make this information available. My question: Does the Catholic Church actually support Homeschooling? Where can I find this information? Thank you.
Answer:

Dear Mom,

I am sorry for the misunderstanding between yourself and the parish priest. This touches members of the faith community more deeply than we sometimes realize. When we have a disagreement with our parish priest it has the potential to interfere with our ability to worship within that community. We sometimes run the risk of transferring our hurt feelings to our spiritual faith walk. I have seen this happen within my own faith community. A simple disagreement grows into such a controversy moving faithful members to stop attending Mass and leave the Catholic Church. We must pray very openly and with a docile heart to guard our spirits from such challenges. I have often said that more people leave the Faith because of something that happened within the walls of the church building rather than anything the Lord may have allowed in their life.

If your parish has a parish school it could possibly be that your parish priest sees Catholic homeschooling as directly competing for the monies that may be spent by parents for education. However I sense that there is something different taking place within the heart of your priest. I believe that he has seen some negative advertising, if you will, concerning the pros and cons of Catholic homeschooling. Like anything else that people choose to do we must be very careful that we always preface our explanations with the words that imply the freedom to choose a path based upon one's understanding of the Lord's will for that family. I will be honest and tell you that I have been exposed to such negative comments concerning the choice to homeschool. Some think that I chose this path because we thought that we were somehow better than families that chose to attend public school. Of course this a ridiculous notion but people will think what they will think. Perhaps your dear priest truly does not understand Catholic homeschooling as a vocation and a calling. It may be better for him to be exposed to the information within the privacy of his own understanding. Perhaps you could write him a letter and enclose some articles and a catalog for his viewing. There in the privacy of the rectory he can take his time to preview the information and perhaps he will change his mind. Perhaps you could make an appointment and give him an opportunity to ask questions. (I would be glad to speak with him if you think that I could be of help.)

If all of these methods seem to hit a closed door, then pray for an open door. Ask that the Lord send you a person who is interested in Catholic homeschooling. I wonder if there is a group of women who seem to be in your same position with regards to school age children and desire. I first learned of Catholic homeschooling from our church bulletin. Two moms hosted an information night at their home and put out a general invitation (it was really nothing more than one sentence in the bulletin). I attended and well the rest is history.

I admire your zeal and your desire. This is indeed a gift of the Lord and one that He will use greatly. There is a saying....'Where there's a will there's a way.' I prefer to say ...... 'Where we allow God's will there is a way'. The Lord has hand picked each of us for the vocation that He has prepared. I do not believe in accident only Godincidents. Keep up the good and holy work. Remember that prayer is the greatest resource and the most reliable.

Let us pray together a Hail Mary for all those young persons that are making the choice to be united in sacramental union through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Lord, we ask that You shower them with the graces necessary to travel this path with dignity and docility, always looking to You, Lord, for guidance and help in all challenges. Amen.

Sending out a prayer,

Rita Munn

   
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