Catholic Education: Are We Teaching the Faith or Just Skimming the Surface?

How many of us here studied in a Catholic school?

I’m one of them. From morning prayers and First Friday Masses to Religion class and Christian Living Education (CLE), I was immersed in Catholic practices for years. And yet—only now, as an adult and an educator—am I realizing how little I truly understood about the richness of our faith.

Back then, I thought catechism was… boring.

Let’s be honest: many of us did. Even today, the moment someone mentions the Catechism of the Catholic Church, people assume it’s dry, complicated, or reserved for clergy and theologians. But here’s what I’ve discovered: it doesn’t have to be boring.

In fact, it’s the opposite. The Catechism is fascinating, beautiful, and filled with deep truths that explain why we believe what we believe. It connects scripture, tradition, Church teaching, reason, and the lived experience of Christians for over 2,000 years. And yet, this treasure was never truly opened for many of us during our school years.

A Missed Opportunity

We were taught to memorize prayers, pass religion quizzes, and behave during Mass—but we were rarely taught to fall in love with our faith. No one ever showed us how exciting, logical, and life-giving Catholicism actually is.

I only began to discover this as an adult—on my own accord—because I experienced an awakening. A moment when I realized that faith wasn’t just a cultural label or a Sunday obligation. It was alive. It was real. And it had answers to questions I didn’t even know I was allowed to ask.

But not everyone gets to that point. Not everyone gets the chance—or feels the need—to rediscover the faith on their own. That’s why we must change how we teach it early on.

Reimagining Christian Living Education (CLE)

As I continue my journey toward a Doctorate in Education Management, I’ve decided that this is more than a personal concern—it’s something I want to explore in my dissertation. I believe it’s time to reform the curriculum of CLE in Catholic schools in the Philippines. It’s time to go deeper, not just wider. It’s time to teach with passion, not just obligation.

Some changes we could explore:

• Make Catechism relatable. Don’t just teach doctrines—show how they answer real-life questions students are already wrestling with.

• Show the ‘why,’ not just the ‘what.’ Help students see the logic and love behind every teaching, not just memorize the teaching itself.

• Use modern tools and creative approaches. Videos, dialogues, social media, interactive discussions—our faith can thrive in these platforms too.

• Train teachers to evangelize, not just instruct. Passion is contagious. When educators truly live and love the faith, students notice.

An Invitation

To my fellow Catholic school alumni: did you ever feel like our faith classes were more about compliance than connection?

To teachers and school leaders: are we giving our students the chance to really know Christ and His Church—or are we just giving them information to pass an exam?

To parents, catechists, and anyone reading this: there is so much more.

My hope is to encourage, inspire, and invite others to stay in touch with their Catholic faith—or to rediscover it with fresh eyes. Because what many think is “boring” is actually breathtaking. What many have missed is a goldmine of wisdom, peace, beauty, and truth.

A Quick Favor

If you’re reading this and something resonated with you—whether you studied in a Catholic school, struggled to understand the faith, or want to help improve how it’s taught—I’d love to hear from you.

As part of my dissertation research for my Doctorate in Education Management, I’ve created a short survey to gather insights on how people experienced Catholic education, especially Christian Living Education (CLE), and how it shaped their faith journey.

👉 Click here to answer the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xqecBrMlxpkZZtkwTa9j8cV0WME7eqXEuOlcL8Yx-qc/edit

It only takes a few minutes, but your answers could make a big impact in helping reform how we teach the faith in our schools.

Let’s help the next generation not just know about Catholicism, but truly encounter the richness of our faith.