On May 7th, 2018, a group of Knights and Dames who reside in the Grosse Pointe, Michigan Area hosted an event shedding light on the beautiful movement in Catholic education, namely returning to the basics and forming children through a classical curriculum. The event highlighted a successful Catholic Classical Academy in Grand Rapids Michigan, Sacred Heart Academy.
Over 50 local Knights and Dames, joined by local businessmen and women, and those hungering to improve Catholic education gathered to hear Father Robert Sirico, pastor of Sacred Heart, Mr. Sean Maltbie, Headmaster of Sacred Heart Academy, and Miss Samantha Surrell, Director of Advancement of the Parish and Academy speak about this beautiful movement and how it has affected their community.
Sacred Heart of Jesus School was a dying Catholic School with 69 students in pre-k through 8th grade. The Bishop gave Father Sirico the opportunity to close the school or make a positive change. Father Sirico knew that classical education centered on the Truth and provided a solid moral formation for students teaching them how to think and act virtuously. The first change Fr. Sirico made was beginning each day with Mass and incorporating as many opportunities to present the students with the Sacraments as possible. Students adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day on Tuesdays and have the opportunity to go to confession once a month. Secondly, all students and faculty members wear uniforms.
Classical education is holistic and exposes students to the True, Good and Beautiful every day. Students read great works of literature, study Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato, read primary sources, understand history, dive into mathematics and see the center of all studies: Christ.
As a result of this authentic Catholic education, Sacred Heart Academy has grown at an unprecedented rate. There are now over 330 students enrolled at Sacred Heart Academy. The academy has added a full time high school, and offers classes called Classical Enrichment Courses for home school students in grades 1-12 on Tuesday and Thursdays. Consequently, Sacred Heart Academy is the fastest growing Catholic school in the country.
The Academy staff and faculty are grateful to have shared the goodness they have received with the Order of Malta in the Grosse Pointe, Michigan area. To learn more about Catholic Classical Education or Sacred Heart Academy visit: sacredheartgr.org.
