Szkolnictwo katolickie

Abstract

Family is the first school in life. It is a communion of people, where we are given from father and mother the most important life lesson – lesson of love. From parents, our first educators, the man acquires cultural, ethical, social, spiritual and religious values. The institution which definitely exerts the influence on the education of a young man together with Christ and Church is a catholic school. It possesses a church entity and functions in a system of state education. It is defined by a Christian concept of the world and its purpose is integral formation of the learner focusing on his complete personality development progressing as a synthesis of intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical formation. At present (2009), there are 500 catholic institutions in Poland including gymnasiums, primary and secondary schools and universities as well. The university with the oldest traditions is The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin and one of the youngest is Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw. Other respected universities are The John Paul II Pontifical University in Cracow and Pontifical Faculties of Theology in Warsaw and Wroclaw. A new phenomenon is establishing universities by convent entities. In particular, Jesuit University of Philosophy and Education ‘Ignatianum’ in Cracow features high dynamism of development. All Catholic schools in Poland belong to the Catholic School Council which has legal personality being under the ecclesiastical and civil law. The council is a full member of the European Committee for Catholic Education in Brussels.