A Catholic school serving as a community of faith and learning in the context of Jaffna diocese, Sri Lanka: A case study

I, a Catholic priest and a teacher, have served in the war-affected areas in the diocese of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The last 30 years of civil war affected children in all the ways it affected adults but the experiences of childhood can adversely affect the life trajectory of children far more than adults. Children, who lost the opportunity for education during war, lost the opportunity of achieving integral human life and social life during those years. The education mission of Catholic schools is challenged in the diocese of Jaffna by these circumstances. ‘The community of faith and learning’ is an interesting theme which I have come across within this study. Moreover, I was impressed by the statement of Pope Benedict XVI: Everything possible must be done, in cooperation with the wider community, to ensure that Catholic schools are accessible to people of all social and economic strata. No child should be denied his or her right to an education in faith, which in turn nurtures the soul of a nation. (Pope Benedict XVI; 2008) A reflective study of the practice in the school in which I was a deputy headteacher, is supported by a case study of the work we carried out during the course of 2012/ 2013.To widen the research there is an analysis of an interviews from the case study school, which provide some idea of what teachers thought of school community. The concept of ‘communion’ became an important theme with post-Vatican theologies on the mission of the Church. Catholic schools in the diocese of Jaffna offer a vision based upon the central teachings and values of the Catholic Church and give integral education to the children to make them good members of the Church and to enable them to fill responsible positions in society. But the urgent need is to promote cooperation across the community. Catholic education gives a chance to build up a community of faith and learning.