「澳門天主教學校辦學願景及使命」文告

Message on the Vision and Missions of Catholic Schools in Macao

前言 / Introduction

十六世紀天主教東漸來華，澳門成為了當時羅馬天主教會與中國的橋樑，更是首個遠東傳教區，足見澳門教區在傳揚福音工作上佔了舉足輕重的位置。此後，天主教教會在澳門立地生根，見證及參與了地區不同歷史階段的發展。澳門天主教會積極回應社會的需要而參與了不同領域的社會事務，更以基督的精神開展了各層面的社會實務工作，當中，教育工作佔了一個相當大的比重。根據澳門天主教學校一項有關學生人數的統計，在非高等教育制度內，澳門的天主教總學校數為30間，就讀於澳門天主教學校的學生人數約佔全澳就學人口的百份之四十。承擔著這龐大的教育人口，天主教學校有責任對教育負起先知角色，身體力行推動社會公義，發揮「光與鹽」的效能。

Catholic missionaries travelled East to China in the 16^th Century, leading to the unique identity of Macao as the first Mission Territory in the far east in bridging Roman Catholic Church and China, with the then-newly established Diocese of Macao assuming the pivotal role in evangelisation. From that milestone moment, the Catholic Church has rooted and grounded steadily in Macao, guarding and growing together with the local people over the following decades and then centuries. Since the beginning, the Holy Church in Macao has been attending to the needs of the local communities in all aspects, providing possible assistance to those in need in the love of Christ. Among such deeds, the provision of education has always weighed the most. According to the recent student statistics conducted by local Catholic schools, there are 30 Catholic schools in Macao, nurturing up to about 40% of the total population of students in the local non-tertiary education system. Bearing the responsibility in educating this high proportion of students, Catholic schools should play a prophetic role and strive for the justice and betterment of the society, so as to fulfill our functions as “salt and light”.

天主教學校是教會的核心。身處轉變中的澳門，面對急遽變化中的國際社會，多元文化及價值的湧現，為了強化天主教學校的身份及使命^[i]，以鼓勵天主教學校積極參與更新及完善教學任務，天主教學校有需要對教會昔日及現今使命作回顧與檢視，並在未來「致力促使社會大眾珍重和發揚基督的博愛與服務精神，也珍重和發揚固有文化裡的處世規範及對生命的熱愛^[ii]」等工作有更多的承擔。是故，透過這份「澳門天主教學校辦學願景及使命」草擬文本，一方面反思天主教會辦學的經驗；另一方面蒐集各校對天主教育願景及使命作為擬訂教會學校的發展方向。

Catholic schools are at the heart of the Church. In an ever-changing Macao, we are faced with shifting tensions in International relations and the emergence of different cultures and values. To strengthen the identity and missions of Catholic schools ^[i], so as to encourage proactive participation in renewing and perfecting educational projects, Catholic schools need to review and reflect on the missions of the Church then and now. Catholic schools shall also take more important roles to “endeavour to interweave reason and faith, which has become the heart of individual subjects, makes for unity, articulation and coordination, bringing forth within what is learnt in school a Christian vision of the world, of life, of culture and of history. ^[ii]” Against this background, this message on the “Vision and Missions of Catholic Schools in Macao” is drafted as a chance to reflect on our consolidated experience in education; as well as the communication of a general direction for Catholic schools.

天主教教育的願景 / Vision of Catholic Education

承澳門福傳基地的精神，「致力促使社會大眾珍重和發揚基督的博愛與服務精神，也珍重和發揚固有文化裡的處世規範及對生命的熱愛 ^[iii]」，並積極整合天主教精神與中華文化的精髓，發展具本土特色及意義的公教學校。

In accordance with the mission of Macao as a centre for evangelism, local Catholic Education shall “endeavour to interweave reason and faith, which has become the heart of individual subjects, makes for unity, articulation and coordination, bringing forth within what is learnt in school a Christian vision of the world, of life, of culture and of history. ^[iii]” Institutions shall also take an active role in integrating Catholicism and the essence of Chinese culture so as to develop themselves into significant Catholic Institutes with local characteristics.

天主教教育的使命 / Missions of Catholic Education

天主教學校是教會在社會中有效的見證^[iv]。天主教學校以基督精神為基礎，「既向現代的進步打開心胸，則自應引導學生致力促進地上社會的福利，並準備學生為拓展天主神國而服務，俾能實踐建設及使徒生活，而成為有益於人類社會的酵母^[v]。」

Catholic schools provide the most effective testimony of the Holy Church in societies ^[iv]. Catholic schools take the spirit of Christ as the foundation, and “while it is open, as it must be, to the situation of the contemporary world, leads its students to promote efficaciously the good of the earthly city and also prepares them for service in the spread of the Kingdom of God, so that by leading an exemplary apostolic life they become, as it were, a saving leaven in the human community. ^[v]”

與此同時，天主教學校作為社會的一員也肩負起社會的角色，且與政治、經濟、文化及社會整合為一體。天主教學校不只面向天主教徒，也同時開放給其他對天主教教育表示欣賞及認同的社會人仕^[vi]。

Meanwhile, any Cathoic “school cannot be considered separately from other educational institutions and administered as an entity apart, but must be related to the world of politics, economy, culture and society as a whole.” A Catholic school “is not reserved to Catholics only, but is open to all those who appreciate and share its qualified educational project. ^[vi]”

天主教學校在教會使命中找到存在的價值；這是基於一種能把信仰、文化和生命達致共融的教育哲學上。地方教會透過天主教學校傳揚福音、教育青年、並努力為其成員培養健康與道德的方式。教宗指出：「天主教學校的重要性愈來愈顯明，尤其有助於發展天主子民的使命，加強教會與人類團體的對話，維護良心自由等......^[vii]」。天主教學校同時需要有效地及有說服力地為自身的福傳的使命而發聲^[viii]。

“The Catholic school finds its true justification in the mission of the Church; it is based on an educational philosophy in which faith, culture and life are brought into harmony. Through it, the local Church evangelizes, educates, and contributes to the formation of a healthy and morally sound life-style among its members. The Holy Father affirms that ‘the need for the Catholic school becomes evidently clear when we consider what it contributes to the development of the mission of the People of God, to the dialogue between Church and the human community, to the safeguarding of freedom of conscience ...’. ^[vii]” “Catholic school must be able to speak for itself effectively and convincingly. It is not merely a question of adaptation, but of missionary thrust, the fundamental duty to evangelise. ^[viii]”

天主教會辦學原則 / Principles of the Catholic Church in Education

綜合以上的天主教學校的使命，天主教學校除了承擔一般學校「以人為本」及「尊重個體」的培育方向外，還需依據教會的精神奉行一些特別的原則，如下：

• 體現教會救贖的使命^[ix]；

• 推動信仰與文化的融合^[x]；

• 實踐信仰與生命的整合^[xi]；

• 傳授福音^[xii]；

• 強調社區化的教育－學校成為教育性的基督社團^[xiii]；

• 關注教育過程中的伙伴關係^[xiv]。

To summarise all of the missions above, in addition to the common objectives of cultivating people with principles in “being student centric” and “respecting for personal conscience of individuals” like any ordinary school, Catholic schools shall also educate with the following principles under the spirit of the Holy Church:

• The salvific mission of the Church ^[ix];

• Integration of faith and culture ^[x];

• Integration of faith and life ^[xi];

• Religious teaching ^[xii];

• The Catholic school as the centre of the educative Christian community ^[xiii];

• Concern of partnership during formation ^[xiv].

天主教學校的教育目的 / Purposes of Education in Catholic Schools

天主教會學校的教育目的是多元發展的。一方面充份體現普世教會共融的願景，另一面尊重地域文化，以及鼓勵教區學校及各修會學校發揮其特殊的辦校宗旨及教育任務，為家長提供多元的選擇^[xv]。

The purposes of education in Catholic schools are constantly evolving and diversifying. From the vision of fulfilling universal communion, to the respect of regional culture, and to the encouragement of local Diocesan schools and Catholic schools in realising individual principles and missions, all are for the sake of provision of as many choices as possible to parents ^[xv].

按照上述天主教會辦學的原則，透過學校教育，以基督為整個教育事業的根基，致力介紹福音啟示的基督博愛精神和中華文化的瑰麗精髓，藉以指導生活取向^[xvi]，提供根基於基督教導的更寬廣的全人培育^[xvii]，並與各界人士，尤其與家長攜手合作^[xviii]，協助青少年及學生培育智慧、修身養性、追求真理、印證價值，並發展成為：

• 身心與靈性健康的人；

• 明辨是非及有道德勇氣的人^[xix]；

• 富同情心的人^[xx]；

• 能獨立思考的人；

• 履行公民責任的人^[xxi]；

• 發揮個人的天賦潛能^[xxii]。

With the aforementioned principles in mind, the main purpose of Catholic education is to endeavour to present through schools the Christian concept of life according to the Gospel and the invaluable core of Chinese culture with Christ as the foundation ^[xvi] of the whole educational enterprise ^[xvi], so as to generate human attitudes ^[xvii] and together with the parents in particular ^[xviii], help the youth and students to cultivate wisdom and virtues, pursue the truth, verify merits and develop into persons who:

• are sound in body and mind;

• have a discerning mind and are sound in moral courage ^[xix];

• are compassionate ^[xx];

• are capable of independent thinking;

• cherish human values ^[xxi]; and

• can display creativity ^[xxii].