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main a priority in hiring for all positions. The inter-
view process should engage questions of Catholic
mission and identity, such as how candidates live
their faith and pray, and how they themselves hold
a Catholic worldview. The search should priori-
tize someone who can support and carry out the
school's mission. It is easier to train a candidate in
technical areas than to create openness and sup-
port for the school's Catholic mission. The Catholic
school teacher can rightly be considered a minister
within the school's religious mission because every
aspect of the school's life expresses the school's ef-
forts for discipleship. Teaching subjects other than
theology or catechesis and daily interactions with
students all present opportunities for discipleship.
For this f ramework to take root, regular prayer as
a faculty will be necessary for discernment and to
strengthen a shared life of faith. Brief daily prayer
as a group will keep everyone united in faith and
mission, although more extended periods are also
necessary. It is important to have at least one full
day retreat a year (although multiday retreats are
encouraged), as well as holy hours throughout the
year. In particular, schools should have a retreat
focused on discipleship for its teachers, which
could provide an excellent opportunity for forming
discipleship-focused groups that could continue
following the retreat. Discipleship retreats should
also be planned for middle and high school stu
-
dents, as well as parents. (See the final heading of
this section).
