A PROJECT FOR SCHOOLS

Interdisciplinary of course

My Bishop (Michael Campbell O.S.A. Lancaster diocese, England) has been in  the news lately. If you are one of those readers who lives in what we like to call the "English Speaking World" which includes the U.S.A. you may already know this. But for others, and ever so briefly, let me explain. 

Bishop Campbell wrote to his diocese on January 1st, a letter full of heartfelt concern for the success of the New Evangelisation AND his concern for our Catholic Schools.

The schools part attracted most attention, and that being so, this blog would like to help "the debate" as it is called, not by offering yet another opinion on the Bishop's observations, but by offering our schools something through which they can show the stuff of which they are made.

We hereby offer our schools a creative and imaginative project exactly right for these quiet weeks before Lent is wheeled out of storage one more time.

It concerns the passage, 1: 14 - 20 from the Gospel according to Mark, which just happens also to be the Gospel passage to be proclaimed at Mass NEXT Sunday, January 22nd, 2012, the Third Sunday of Year B.

If Mark were around today he would be in great demand as a scene writer in the film industry. He has the happy ability to plunge us into the very heart of the Christian message without losing his listeners in a sea of theological verbiage. 

Drama, colour, action, these are his methods. There is no pretence at being an expert in these things, but he succeeds brilliantly in getting the message across. He just tells the story and suddenly we are in there, out of our depth but enjoying the experience, and learning.


So, here's your project school: Using Art, Drama, Music, and those boring old reliables known to us all as the three R's, unwrap Mark, 1:14 - 20 and do it so well that everyone in school wants to get out of whatever boat they are currently in and "follow Him".

Speaking from experience gained long ago, I can tell you that the arrival of Jesus on the scene can be done very well with the slow violins and crashing of drums which you will find in the introduction to Nial Diamond's "Hot August Night". And that's just for starters!

Go to it everybody. Let the Gospel explode in your school.