The Academy's Ideals and Principles: The Way it Was!


jesus
This painting was at the front door of St. Angela’s Academy to welcome all visitor and is now at St. Angela Merici Residence in Saskatoon.
This picture of Jesus, the Sower, was painted in the mid fifties by Sister Imelda Burgart.


1. The Educational Ideals of St. Angela Merici St. Angela Merici's master plan was to give God His rightful place in the family and in society. As means toward this end, she sought the personal formation of the students and the restoration of the home through the education of young girls, who would be the wives and mothers of the future and the preservers of the faith. She taught her Christian educators to respect the individual in view of the personal dignity of each human being, and the fact that each has been called to a special relationship with God. Angela created an atmosphere permeated by the Gospel spirit of freedom and charity, serving others with unselfish love and genuine concern by sharing their interests, worries, poverty and hopes. 2. Christian Principles Christian principles and action was the foundation of our approach to personal development. The Academy endeavored to teach Christian doctrine within the context of a lived community experience, and to empower the girls for effective witness and service to others. This Christian education was realized within a worshipping community through various religious activities such as daily morning and night prayer in chapel, credited Christian Ethics classes, grace at meals, the celebration of the Eucharist, special liturgies, and seminars or retreats. These functions offered opportunities for open expression, creativity, and self-fulfillment. They challenged each girl to make moral decisions and to define spiritual values and ethical standards.
3.
CATHOLIC TRADITION As a Catholic school:

    • a) The Academy upheld the teachings and values of Christ as practiced in the Roman Catholic Church .
    • b) The Academy was conducted according to the heart of Angela and gave tangible witness to her spirit. It provided numerous girls and their families contact with and an understanding of religious life within the Ursuline Congregation of Prelate.
    • c) The Academy witnessed to the Christian vocation and in a special way helped the girls discern their specific call to the religious life, to the single way of life, or to the married state.
4. GIRLS OF OTHER TRADITIONS WELCOME Although St. Angela's Academy was a Catholic school, many girls of other traditions attended over the years and found the spiritual program helpful to live out their denominational traditions.

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