Office of Catholic Schools

42 integrating factor for all that the teacher does. All teachers should receive ongoing support and formation related to discipleship. In addition to reg- ular prayer and annual retreats, one possibility di- rectly related to the nature of discipleship would be to establish teacher mentors. Fellow teachers can provide mentorship and support for prayer and for growth in faith, as well as providing a prayer part- ner. Small groups of teachers focused on prayer, Bible studies, or other spiritual reading could meet after school or during lunch. It is also possible for schools to work with other schools for regional days of prayer and even for more extraordinary events like pilgrimages. Other creative possibilities can also support the school's efforts, including visits to other schools to observe their practices or travel to regional or national conferences. Ongoing forma - tion should also include intellectual formation to support teaching f rom a Catholic worldview. This will include reading classic works f rom the Catholic tradition, exploring connections between faith and particular disciplines, and taking inspiration f rom the Church's rich artistic tradition. Principals will have opportunities to explore ap- proaches to discipleship on the Archdiocesan level during monthly meetings and other events. In addition, it is important for school leaders to have opportunities for growth in the spiritual and intel- lectual life, such as extended retreats and seminars. In order to be able to serve as a spiritual leader for teachers, principals will need even deeper forma- tion and should also set goals for spiritual growth each year. They will need to work with pastors and chaplains to ensure that they have a proper artic- ulation of the school's spiritual mission and coop- erate with him in overseeing the execution of the plan to strengthen discipleship.

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